Dr. Jeffrey Lobel of Lima Memorial Health System uses the Mazor Robot to perform a neurosurgical procedure.
LIMA — An estimated 10 to 15 percent of the population has chronic back pain. While pain often improves with non-surgical techniques, surgery is extremely effective in some cases. In order to optimize and enhance surgeon performance, robot-assisted systems have been developed and deployed worldwide.
According to an iData Research report, more than one million instrumented spinal procedures are performed annually in the United States. The Mazor Robot at Lima Memorial Health System is being used to, “enhance the ability to perform surgery more accurately,” according to neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Lobel at LMHS Spine and Neurosurgery.
At LMHS, Dr. Lobel utilizes the robot primarily for spinal surgeries. He states the benefits of robotic-assisted spine surgery are “increased accuracy, a smaller incision and less tissue damage.” He is quick to specify that, “the robot is still [in] my hands.”
Dr. Lobel notes “improved accuracy of screw placement” with the use of the robotic device. Widely used in a majority of spine operations, pedicle screws help stabilize the spine and facilitate fusion. Blood vessels and nerve roots found near the spine create the potential for excessive blood loss, sensory nerve damage and motor loss. The desire for improved accuracy and lower complication rates led to the development of robotic-assisted surgery.
The length of time for a surgical spinal procedure to be completed varies widely from two to seven hours. With less-invasive surgical procedures, patients typically spend one to two days in the hospital followed by rehabilitation. Often the rehabilitation can be offered “in-house” in the rehab unit at LMHS.
Spinal surgeries at LMHS are often performed due to trauma or to correct previously unsuccessful surgery. With the volume of cases remaining low, LMHS currently has only one Mazor Robot. Each robot comes with a price tag of approximately $1.5 million.
While Dr. Lobel is not currently using the robot for removing brain tumors, he is able to perform “precision-oriented brain biopsies” with the device. He uses the metaphor of a “sniper attack versus a shotgun approach.”
Not all patients requiring spinal surgery are candidates for robotic guidance surgery. After obtaining the patient’s medical history, performing a physical examination and carefully reviewing imaging, the neurosurgeon will determine the appropriate surgical procedure.
