Robot-assisted anterior lumbar interbody fusion in a Swine model in vivo test of the da vinci surgical-assisted spinal surgery system.
METHODS
the use of the da Vinci Surgical System to perform an anterior lumbar interbody fusion in a swine model to identify the technical properties, processes, merits, demerits, and limitations of a video-assisted robotic surgical system.


OBJECTIVE
this study was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of using a robotic surgical system to perform spinal surgery.


BACKGROUND
video-assisted laparoscopic anterior fusion was first reported in 1995 and afterward was spotlighted for several years. However, this technique has not become popular because of technical difficulties and complications associated with video-assisted procedures on the spine. As such, there is a demand for investigations to improve this technology. The da Vinci Surgical System provides 3-dimensional visualization as well as uniquely dexterous instruments that are remarkably similar to human hands. Video-assisted surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System robot has already provided great value to the fields of urology, cardiology, gynecology, and general surgery over the last decade. Preclinical studies for application of this system in spinal surgery have recently been conducted.


METHODS
a pig underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion using da Vinci Surgical System assistance, with Tyche expandable cages used for preparation of endplates and cage placement. The setup time, operation time, amount of bleeding, and the number of complications associated with robotic manipulation were recorded. Before euthanasia, the animal underwent radiologic examination to confirm proper placement of cages.


RESULTS
the total duration of the procedure took 6 hours, with some complications related to frozen armsand robotic arm collision. Even so, there was neither any significant nerve or vessel injury nor peritoneal organ damage. Furthermore, radiologic assessment confirmed proper position of the cage in the center of the disc space.


CONCLUSIONS
use of the da Vinci Surgical System to perform an anterior spinal procedure was shown to be safe and effective in a swine animal model. The utilization of this advanced technology shows promise to reduce the incidence of complications compared with other approaches. It requires further testing in animal models and cadavers, along with serial comparisons to current procedures.
Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Moon Sool
MS
Yang
Do Heum
DH
Yoon
Keung Nyun
KN
Kim
Hoon
H
Kim
Joong Won
JW
Yang
Seong
S
Yi
John Y K
JY
Lee
Woo Ju
WJ
Jung
Koon Ho
KH
Rha
Yoon
Y
Ha
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D023421:Models, Animal; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012371:Robotics; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*