Jun 4 2019
Rush University Medical Center has now come up with a new robotic system that can increase the safety and precision of spinal fusion surgeries and can shorten the time required for the surgery at the same time.
The system, known as the Mazor X Robotic Guidance Platform, combines imaging before surgery and image guidance during the surgery, thereby improving the planning and precision of surgery.
Spinal fusion is used to ease pain and other symptoms of conditions such as fractures, tumors, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative disk disease. At the time of spinal fusion, vertebrae (the bones of the backbone) get fused together, thus preventing motion between the vertebrae.
A key and time-consuming component of correcting deformity is correctly and safely placing the screws in the spine that fuse the vertebrae. This system makes that part of the procedure more efficient and helps with the accurate placement of these screws.
Dr Christopher DeWald, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center
The first hospital in Chicago to use the robotic platform is Rush. This robotic platform has an imaging component that can offer a customized “blueprint” of the spine of a patient together with detailed locations for spinal screws. It can be attached to the operating room table and the patient and has a robotic arm that can help in guiding the surgeon while placing the screws at proper locations.
Because the robotic system makes placing screws more efficient, I am able to focus on different aspects of the procedure, such as deformity correction and decompression of nerves. The entire surgery can be completed in a shorter period of time.
Dr Christopher DeWald, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center
Another advantage of robotic spinal fusion surgery is that the patient’s and surgeon’s radiation exposure is minimal, as the surgeon may be less dependent on X-ray imaging for support during surgery.
The technology enables the images captured during surgery to be matched with computerized tomography (CT) scan taken before surgery with submillimetric accuracy. The robot has the potential to match the patient’s position at the time of the surgery with the preoperative CT scan.
The robotic arm moves into position to help me place the screws based on the plan I created before surgery. This tool gives me the ability to optimize the size of the screw for each individual patient. An increased level of safety for the patient is always the primary focus and reason for utilizing tools and technology such as the robot.
Dr Christopher DeWald, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center
DeWald is one of the pioneers in his discipline and one of the first in the country to use the Mazor X stealth edition of the robotic system in spinal surgery. Till date, he has used this technology to carry out more than 12 procedures to correct spinal deformity procedures.
My partners and I are able to utilize this technology for any procedure requiring screw placement or pre-operative planning for the patient’s sagittal alignment. In addition to deformity correction, we’re able to use the robot for degenerative lumbar fusions and fracture stabilization.
Dr Christopher DeWald, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center
Drs Howard An, Matthew Colman, Gregory Lopez, and Kern Singh are other spine surgeons at Rush who have also been trained to use the Mazor robotic technology.
Orthopedic doctors at Rush are team physicians for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Fire Soccer Club, and Joffrey Ballet. The orthopedic program at Rush University Medical Center is ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as No. 4 in the world and the highest ranked program in Illinois and Indiana.