Do you need back surgery to treat a herniated disc or other chronic condition? Schedule a consultation with Grigory Goldberg, MD, the spine specialist New Jersey locals trust most.
When you have back pain that doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, spine surgery is the next logical step in reducing your discomfort and improving your quality of life. Spine specialists are turning to robotic spine surgery for the safest and most precise procedures. This innovation is transforming the surgical field and benefiting patients and surgeons by enabling minimally invasive surgical treatment with fewer complications and a faster recovery.
Keep reading to learn more about robotic spine surgery in New Jersey, how the procedures work, and what you can expect if you undergo one of these procedures.
What Is Robotic Spine Surgery?
Robotic spine surgery is one of the latest innovations in the medical and technology world.
With this type of surgery, surgeons use robotic technology to perform minimally invasive procedures. After making small incisions in your back, the surgeon inserts a robotic arm equipped with a small hook and controls the movements from a separate console. The console provides a detailed, 3D view of your spine, and the surgeon can direct the robotic arm’s movements with total control and precision.
Ultimately, using this technology, the surgeon gains more control and has a greater range of motion. There’s less trauma to the surrounding tissue, and because the incisions are smaller, there is a reduced risk for infection as well.
Planning Surgical Procedures
Robotic spine surgery actually begins long before a patient enters the operating suite. Surgeons can plan the procedure before your surgery date to help ensure a better outcome.
Pre-planning starts by uploading a CT scan image of your spine to the 3D virtual planning program. The doctor simulates the entire procedure on the screen using these images, tailoring their movements to your specific condition. Once they have a plan, they can bring it into the operating room, where the robotic spine surgery program moves the tools into place and guides the doctor through their planned movements.
The Advantages of Robotic Procedures
Robotic spine procedures offer a plethora of advantages for surgeons and patients to take advantage of, including:
- Improved procedure outcomes: Patients undergoing robot-assisted surgery are 11 times less likely to need a revision than those with traditional procedures, and 90% report less back pain, according to a Harvard Health Publishing article.
- Better accuracy: Research shows that robot-assisted procedures have an accuracy rate of 99%.
- Faster recovery: Minimally invasive procedures cause less pain and blood loss, so the hospital stay and recovery times are shorter. Most people go home from the hospital in a few days and fully recover in a few months rather than a year or longer.
- Less anesthesia and radiation exposure: Since robotic spine procedures take less time, there’s a lower risk of complications due to anesthesia and radiation from the equipment.
- Smaller incisions: Smaller surgical incisions mean less blood loss, less tissue damage, less risk of infection, and smaller scars.
Explore Your Options for Robotic Spine Surgery in New Jersey
If you have ongoing back pain that isn’t responding to noninvasive treatments and want to find the best spine surgeon in NJ, make an appointment with Grigory Goldberg, MD. Dr. Goldberg and his team will go over your treatment options and help you decide on the best treatment plan to address your pain. Book a consultation online, or call one of our six locations directly.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection), and same-day appointments may be available.
We can help you learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery and the benefits it offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Conditions Can Robotic Spine Surgery Treat?
Robotic spine surgery can help treat multiple conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, and spinal tumors. The procedures can also treat traumatic spinal fractures.
What Is Recovery Like After a Robotic Spine Procedure?
Since it’s a minimally invasive approach, you can expect to spend less time in the hospital, have less pain, and return to your normal activities sooner when you have this type of surgery. You will still need to rest, go to physical therapy, and take medication per your doctor’s instructions.
Are There Any Risks Related to Robotic Spine Surgery?
Most studies report that robot-assisted back surgery has few risks. However, there are always some risks inherent in any surgical procedure, including pain, infection, and poor outcome, so you need to discuss the pros and cons of any approach with your surgeon.
