ties when only partial
knee replacements
are necessary simply
because of the techni-
cal complexity of
placing implants into
only part of the joint.
That's where the
robot comes into play.
With robotic assis-
tance, surgeons are
able to position
implants more accu-
rately.
"Once you start doing partial knees with a robot, you see increased
precision, and data show robotically placed implants have better sur-
vivorship than those placed manually," says Dr. Nessler.
•
Spine. "Previously, most spine surgeries were done with surgical
navigation, which doesn't match the precision of robotics," says Jed
Vanichkachorn, MD, MBA, MSHA, a spine surgeon at St. Mary's
Hospital in Richmond, Va.
Aside from added precision, robot assistance also lets spine sur-
geons perform more complex procedures without intraoperative radi-
ation. "That avoids exposing patients, staff and surgeons to potential
harm," says Dr. Vanichkachorn.
He currently uses a robot for lumbar fusions, but foresees the tech-
nology being applied during cervical fusions and interbody fusions in
the near future. Although he doesn't envision robots completely tak-
ing over spine surgery within the next 5 years, he says surgeons must
be willing to adapt to using the technology in order to keep up with
4 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8
• ROBOT REBATE TransEnterix's Senhance Surgical Robotic System features
detachable instrument arms that can be reprocessed hundreds of times, a feature
that reduces the platform's per-case expense.
Jim
Burger
