Robotic Spine Surgery: Accuracy and Outcomes

The first step with quadriplegia is always to find out the underlying cause. Once the cause is identified, it can potentially be addressed and removed.

Rather than becoming an assistant, doctors can partner through Jivo's training programmes, which bring fellows from Africa to train directly - the framing is colleague and partner, not assistant.

The spine is made up of three main components, each with its own nutritional needs: bones need calcium, vitamin D and sunlight; muscles and tissues need exercise and good protein in the diet; nerves need exercise and vitamin B12. Altogether, a good lifestyle, diet and exercise are what keep the spine healthy.

For idiopathic scoliosis, once the curve goes beyond 40 to 45 degrees, bracing has failed and surgery is indicated. On plates: long plates such as Steffee plating are no longer used - for the last 15 to 20 years, the standard has been transpedicular screws with a titanium or PEEK cage instead.

There is no real obstacle - the obstacle is in the mind. As an example, three minimally invasive spine surgeries (two of them revisions of prior laminectomies) were performed in Abuja, Nigeria over the last two months, and all three patients were walking the next day; this has already led to inquiries from ten different hospitals wanting to start similar programmes. It is a matter of local doctors taking the initiative, supported by training and partnership.

Manual screw placement accuracy is around 93%; robotic-assisted placement reaches close to 100%, with less blood loss and a shorter hospital stay.

A CT scan is taken, the robot plans the trajectory on screen, moves into position, and the screw is placed through a small cut under live imaging that confirms the final position matches the plan.