KEAT'S BLOG
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Advanced applications of robotic spine surgery
By Keat Ooi, Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon
Feb 2025
Robotic spine surgery has become an indispensable tool in transforming lives, but the journey is far from over.
Join me as I discuss some advanced applications of robotic spine surgery in this article.
Revolutionising Spinal Surgery
I’ve been privileged to be at the forefront of robotic spine surgery for some time now, and it’s become an indispensable tool in many of my procedures.
In fact, I was the very first surgeon to use it at Warringal Hospital! That milestone marked the beginning of an incredible journey. Now, it’s time to take things further.
Robotic-assisted spine surgery has become a mainstay in my approach to spinal fusion procedures, but the technology holds vast, untapped potential beyond that.
With this in mind, I packed my bags and headed to San Diego to deepen my understanding of advanced applications in robotic spine surgery.
Anterior Column Reconstruction
The highlight? Anterior column reconstruction (ACR). This minimally invasive technique realigns the lumbar spine, providing transformative outcomes. ACR is a more specialised form of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) surgery.
While I’ll dive deeper into ALIF another time, here’s a quick summary of the robot aspect: imagine a robotic arm precisely aligning surgical instruments with the spine, and real-time feedback from the system’s computer monitor ensures the highest level of accuracy while performing the procedure.
During my two-day visit, I had the privilege of observing these advanced techniques in action.
Day 1
My journey began at the University California San Diego Medical Center, a globally renowned teaching facility. I was thrilled to witness Dr. Martin Pham perform an ACR procedure on the T10 region of the spine.
Dr. Pham’s expertise was impressive, and he generously answered my numerous questions about the intricacies of the technique.
Day 2
I shadowed Dr. Joseph Osorio, who expanded the procedure from the T10 vertebra down to the S2 vertebra. It was remarkable to see the robotic system seamlessly handle this extended application.
Dr. Osorio was equally accommodating, taking the time to discuss the nuances of the procedure and address all my questions.
What’s Next?
These two days of immersive learning were invaluable. I’ve come away with a wealth of knowledge and am excited to integrate these cutting-edge techniques into my practice back in Australia, further enhancing the care I provide to my patients.
Keat Ooi is a practicing spine surgeon based in Melbourne, Australia. He has a passion for health education and improving the lives of his patients.
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