title: Robotics and the spine: a review of current and ongoing applications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Robotics in the operating room has shown great use and versatility in multiple surgical fields. Robot-assisted spine surgery has gained significant favor over its relatively short existence, due to its intuitive promise of higher surgical accuracy and better outcomes with fewer complications. Here, the authors analyze the existing literature on this growing technology in the era of minimally invasive spine surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an attempt to provide the most recent, up-to-date review of the current literature on robotic spine surgery, a search of the existing literature was conducted to obtain all relevant studies on robotics as it relates to its application in spine surgery and other interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 45 articles were included in the analysis. The authors discuss the current status of this technology and its potential in multiple arenas of spinal interventions, mainly spine surgery and spine biomechanics testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are numerous potential advantages and limitations to robotic spine surgery, as suggested in published case reports and in retrospective and prospective studies. Randomized controlled trials are few in number and show conflicting results regarding accuracy. The present limitations may be surmountable with future technological improvements, greater surgeon experience, reduced cost, improved operating room dynamics, and more training of surgical team members. Given the promise of robotics for improvements in spine surgery and spine biomechanics testing, more studies are needed to further explore the applicability of this technology in the spinal operating room. Due to the significant cost of the robotic equipment, studies are needed to substantiate that the increased equipment costs will result in significant benefits that will justify the expense.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurosurgery and.
authors.forename: Faris
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shweikeh
authors.forename: Jordan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Amadio
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arnell
authors.forename: Zachary R
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: Terrence T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J Patrick
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Doniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drazin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome