Robots in Spine Surgery: Spotlight on Seattle Science Foundation

In recent years, robots have become common helpers in spine surgery. Doctors use them to make operations more precise and safer. The 7th and 8th Annual Seattle Science Foundation (SSF) Robotics Courses gathered experts to talk about and show off the latest robotics and surgery techniques. These included fancy pre-surgery planning tools, using augmented reality in the operating room, putting screws in the neck to fuse it, and managing brain tumors. Let's have a quick look at how robots are changing spine surgery and what we learned from the courses. Before surgery, doctors plan a lot. New robotics tools help them make these plans even better. By using 3D images of the spine, doctors can see exactly what needs to be done. This makes the surgery more accurate and the outcome better for the patient. During surgery, some doctors use augmented reality (AR). This is like adding computer-generated images to the real world. With AR, doctors can see important information right in front of them, making the surgery simpler and more precise. Robots are also helping with cervical fusion. This is a surgery to connect neck bones with screws. Using robots, doctors can place these screws exactly where they need to be, making the surgery safer and more effective. Lastly, robots are helping manage brain tumors. By using them, doctors can reach hard-to-get-to areas and remove tumors more safely. This is great news for patients with these tough-to-treat conditions. The SSF Robotics Courses were a big deal. They showed how far we've come and where we're going with robotics in surgery. It's exciting to think about what the future holds!