Northwest Medical Center First In Arizona With New Robotic Technology For Spine Surgery
9/13/2018
Northwest Medical Center is the first hospital in Arizona to perform spinal fusion surgery using a new robotic technology. The robotic system allows the surgeon to “pre-plan” the surgery based on the patient’s preoperative CT scan. This technology improves the accuracy of placing screws into the lower back, while reducing the need for x-ray exposure to the patient, OR staff, and surgeon during the surgery. This precision technology, in combination with image-guidance, provides the latest technology for spine surgery patients and can be used for most lumbar spinal fusions.
Dr. Richard Chua, neurosurgeon, performed the first surgery to fuse lumbar spinal discs L4 to S1. The patient was discharged home the following day.
“Robotic technology will add tremendous value to many of the surgeries performed in my patients because it provides better accuracy for placing screws into the spine. This typically leads to a better outcome of the spine fusion, may mean shorter recovery time, and offer better overall patient-reported outcomes such as pain relief. The technology will likely make it safer to perform more complex spine operations.”
The robotic spine surgery program will add to Northwest Medical Center’s Joint Commission-accredited spine surgery program which includes minimally invasive surgery techniques, motion preservation lumbar spine surgery, lateral lumbar fusion, image guidance, cervical disc replacement, kyphoplasty, and many more.
This is the third surgical robotic platform Northwest Medical Center has provided for patient care. The program’s first robotic system was added in 2009 to be used for general surgery (hernia, gallbladder, acid reflux, appendix, colon cancer), urology (prostate and kidney cancer), and gynecology (hysterectomy, endometriosis). The addition of a second system added the ability to perform robotic-assisted hip and knee joint replacement.
Kevin Stockton, Regional President for Northwest Healthcare said, “We often receive requests from physicians and surgeons to provide them access to the latest technology for surgery and patient care. We are very pleased to lead the way in Arizona utilizing this tool.”
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