Virtua Health is the first in the South Jersey and Philadelphia region to provide robotic-assisted spine surgery combined with a GPS-like navigation system that enhances safety and enables better outcomes.
The navigation software, called Spine Guidance by Stryker, enables surgeons to create “safe zones” where the surgical tools can be blocked from entering, minimizing the risk of damage to surrounding structures.
“It’s the only software on the market that allows us to set up safe zones, which enables us to relieve pressure on compressed nerves more safely and efficiently,” said Dr. James Sanfilippo, vice president of clinical operations for musculoskeletal services at Virtua Health.
Robotic-assisted spine procedures are not widely available yet, and Virtua is one of the first in the country to offer them. The not-for-profit health system has been a leader in robotic surgery for 20-plus years, including hip and knee replacements, among other procedures.
“Our decades of experience performing other types of robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery have positioned us to readily embrace new forms of the technology as they’re introduced,” said Sanfilippo, who is also a spine surgeon with Virtua Reconstructive Orthopedics.
“We work closely with robotic-device manufacturers, in this case Stryker, to ensure we can offer the best options to our patients across our region and beyond.”
Sanfilippo and his team use Stryker’s Mako Spine robotic surgery platform, in addition to its Spine Guidance software.
Robotic-assisted spine surgery with Spine Guidance offers increased precision, which can optimize safety, help preserve healthy tissue, reduce the amount of cutting and make recovery faster and easier, compared to other spine-surgery techniques.
The state-of-the-art technology is used for spinal fusion surgery, which joins the vertebrae (spine bones) together to stabilize injured spinal segments. Rods and screws are attached between the fused vertebrae to relieve pressure on compressed nerves, which reduces or eliminates pain, and preserves a person’s mobility.
The robotic system enables the surgeon to navigate tiny robotic tools with more exactitude than traditional methods. The surgeon directly controls a robotic arm and wrist that have a greater range of motion than the human hand.
“We’re extremely proud to offer this leading-edge technology, so we can help our patients recover better and more quickly from a range of debilitating spine conditions,” said Sanfilippo.
He and several Virtua colleagues have already performed over 300 procedures using the Spine Guidance software, including 75 cases using the Mako robotic arm, as well.
“The instruments are integrated into the navigation software, so the robotic system helps us position and control the instruments very precisely,” said Sanfilippo.
“It allows us to remove bones and ligaments off of nerves in the spine in a more precise fashion. It also allows us greater precision as we place the screws into the bones. It’s a safer and more efficient way of doing these surgeries.
“Our patients have had great success with robotic-assisted spine surgery. It has reduced postoperative pain and complications by making the surgeries more minimally invasive and reducing some of the risks associated with freeing up the nerves.”
Robotic spine surgery is available at Virtua Voorhees Hospital and Virtua Mount Holly Hospital.
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