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Robotics is useful for less-experienced surgeons in spinal deformity surgery

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2022 Aug 17. doi: 10.1007/s00590-022-03362-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To verify whether robotics was useful for surgeons who had less experience with spinal deformity surgery.

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 70 consecutive patients who underwent robotic-assisted pedicle screw placements with open procedures using a spine robotic system (Mazor X Stealth Edition) at a single institution from April 2021 to April 2022. Gertzbein-Robbins grades were used to assess the deviation of the 599 pedicle screws in the postoperative CT images. The rate of Grade A was considered the perfect accuracy rate, and the rate of Grades C, D, and E was calculated as the deviation rate. The perfect accuracy rate and deviation rate were compared between the spinal deformity and the non-deformity groups. The perfect accuracy rate, deviation rate, and screw insertion time were compared in the spinal deformity cases between the expert surgeon group and the less-experienced surgeon group.

RESULTS: The deviation rate of the spinal deformity group was higher than that of the non-deformity group even though there was no statistically significant difference (spinal deformity group: 2.3%, non-deformity group: 1.2%, p = 0.350). In the spinal deformity cases, there was no significant difference in the perfect accuracy rate between the expert surgeon group and the less-experienced surgeon group, but the deviation rate was significantly lower in the less-experienced surgeon group (expert surgeon group: 5.0%, less-experienced surgeon group: 0%, p = 0.008). The screw insertion time was significantly shorter in the less-experienced surgeon group.

CONCLUSION: Robotics is particularly useful for surgeons with less experience in spinal deformity surgery.

PMID:35976573 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-022-03362-4

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