Allegheny Health Network physicians became the first in Pennsylvania to perform minimally invasive spine surgery with Mazor X, a sophisticated robotic spine surgery system.
Here are five things to know:
1. Chair of AHN's Neuroscience Institute Donald Whiting, MD, performed the first procedure.
2. The Mazor X system uses analytics tools, precision guidance, optical tracking and intraoperative verification to assist with spine surgery. The technology combines preoperative analytics software and computerized 3D surgical planning to prepare for the procedure. The system's intraoperative guidance through a robotic surgical arm is designed to ensure the procedure goes according to the plan.
3. Surgeons can use the Mazor X system during surgery for several conditions, including stenosis, scoliosis and spondylolisthesis.
4. The Mazor X system is designed for less invasive procedures that can reduce radiation exposure from X-rays that are typically used during spine surgery. Patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery with the robotic technology also reported 27 percent shorter hospital length of stay and 48 percent lower complication rate.
5. The Mazor X system adds to AHN's robotic-assisted technology, which includes the Mako system for knee and hip procedures. Nine AHN surgeons are trained to use the Mazor X system.