Benefits and Challenges of Robotic Spine Surgery

Robotic spine surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses robots to assist surgeons in performing surgical procedures. Over the past few years, the use of robotics in spine surgery has increased greatly. Although this surgical technique has many benefits, you must also recognize its challenges. This blog emphasizes the benefits and challenges of using robotics in spine surgery so that the patient and the surgeon can decide whether to go for this procedure. 

Benefits of Robotic Spine Surgery

Robotic spine surgery offers many benefits over traditional spine surgery. This technology is designed to provide greater precision, accuracy, and control during surgery. Furthermore, this surgical technique uses robotics to assist surgeons during surgery, who can control the robot's movement using a computer console. The robot is usually equipped with surgical instruments and a camera that helps the surgeon see inside the patient's body and perform the surgery through small incisions. Here are a few more promising benefits of this latest surgery. 

Minimally Invasive Procedure

Robotics offers minimal invasiveness in spine surgery. That's why surgeons require smaller incisions to reach the surgical site, causing less trauma to the nearby tissues. So, it leads to less blood loss, less pain, and a faster recovery time. 

Increased Precision

One of the most promising benefits of this surgery is its higher precision rate. Robots are highly accurate, so they can perform the entire surgery with a level of precision that is difficult for human beings to achieve. You should also choose the best robotic spine doctor for your surgery. 

Improved Safety during Surgery

Through robotics, the risk of human error reduces. Robots are programmed to follow a specific set of instructions, which helps to ensure that the procedure is performed safely and accurately. 

Better Surgical Outcomes

According to studies, robotic spine surgery patients experience better outcomes than traditional surgery. It happens because the procedure is more precise, less invasive, and less traumatic, which helps in quick healing and faster recovery. 

Shorter Hospital Stay

Patients for spine robotic surgery have to stay less in the hospital compared to those who undergo traditional spine surgery. Less invasiveness promotes faster recovery, resulting in a shorter hospital stay. 

Challenges of Robotic Spine Surgery

The challenges of robotic spine surgery range from technical issues to cost and a few others. Additionally, the limited availability of robotic spine surgery in some hospitals and the need for long-term data on the outcomes of this procedure can also be a few challenges for patients and neurosurgeons. For more details on challenges, please read below. 

Technical Issues

Like any other technology, robots can experience technical issues that cause surgery delays and complications. Malfunctioning software or hardware causes these technical issues. Moreover, it can also become difficult to diagnose and fix these issues sometimes. 

Cost

Latest spine robotic surgery is more expensive than traditional spine surgeries. It requires more technology cost and training doctors to use robotics. That's why the majority of hospitals don't offer this procedure. 

Learning Curve

Robotic spine surgery requires special training and expertise, which can be challenging and time-consuming. Additionally, it takes time to become proficient in using this latest technology, which can hinder its adoption. 

Limited Availability

This latest surgical facility is not available in all hospitals due to its cost and expertise. That means many patients don't have access to this procedure. So, if a patient doesn't access this surgical technique, he may not get benefit from this latest spine surgery procedure. 

Lack of Long-Term Data

According to studies, although robotic spine surgery leads to better outcomes in the short term, so there is limited data on the long-term outcome of this procedure. Hence, it makes it difficult to determine whether the benefits of this procedure overweight the risks over the long term. 

So, if you decide to go for robotic spine surgery after reading about its benefits and challenges, consult the best neurosurgeon. Furthermore, if you are searching for a neurosurgeon near me, Dr. Abdul Baker is your best option in Sherman and Plano. 

FAQs

1. Is robotic spine surgery better?

Robotic spine surgery has the potential to provide greater precision as compared to traditional spine surgery techniques. Most importantly, the effectiveness and safety of this technique depend on the skills and expertise of the surgeon who performs this surgery. It offers less invasiveness and quicker recovery time as well. 

2. What is the success rate of robotic spine surgery?

The success rate of robotic spine surgery depends on various factors, including the type of procedure, the surgeon's expertise, and the patient's overall health. Regarding patient relief, robotic spine surgery has a 90% success rate. 

3. How long does it take to recover from robotic back surgery?

The recovery time depends on the complexity of the surgery and the patient's overall health. Most people recover within 1-3 weeks from robotic back surgery, but you should expect a full recovery within 6 weeks.