Terence Chen, MD, performed the first awake spine surgery with the ExcelsiusGPS robot at Walnut Creek (Calif.) Medical Center.
Dr. Chen performed an intradiscal lumbar interbody fusion on a patient with back issues caused by degenerative discs, according to a May 23 news release from the health system. He used the robot to plan and place screws.
His patient, who previously had a successful surgery from Dr. Chen in 1995, was able to begin physical therapy a couple hours after surgery.