Scoliosis is called the lateral inclination and turning of the vertebrae, the three-dimensional deformation of the spine, which is classified into four types:

• Idiopathic scoliosis
• Congenital scoliosis
• Neuromuscular scoliosis
• Syndromic scoliosis

“Usually, it appears during adolescence (80% of cases involve teenagers, making up 1.5% – 4.5% of the student population), but it can occur even at younger ages. In adulthood, severe forms of scoliosis can result from neglected cases of adolescent/childhood scoliosis or due to degeneration (aging) of the spine.

Despite multiple investigations that have been conducted for more than fifty years, most cases of scoliosis remain etiologically unknown. 85%-90% of them are called “unknown etiology” or “idiopathic” scoliosis, while the remaining cases, whose causes are known, make up only 10%-15%”, says Mr. Marios Lykissas Director of the Spine Clinic at the Metropolitan Hospital and continues:

“Another condition of the spine is kyphosis, a deformity that creates a bent posture of the trunk. Every human has a normal kyphosis in the thoracic spine ranging from 20° to 45°, so anything beyond that is considered abnormal.

Kyphosis is a condition that occurs from childhood to old age. When it occurs in young people, it most often affects adolescent boys.

This postural abnormality can be caused by a spinal condition known as Scheuermann’s disease. At older ages, conditions such as osteoporosis can cause significant kyphosis as the spine fractures and trunk flexibility and balance are gradually lost.

Both kyphosis and scoliosis can be effectively treated through surgical navigation and robotic navigation with the help of artificial intelligence, freeing patients forever from spinal deformity. In the Metropolitan Hospitalthe specialized spine surgeons, are the only ones in Greece who have the pioneering Excelsius GPS robotic system which allows the treatment of every patient with a spine problem who has an indication for surgery. It has now been used for a significant number of operations on adults and children with scoliosis, offering an individualized design to each patient,” emphasizes the expert.

What are the unique features that distinguish surgical navigation?

• 3D visualization of the spine and the position of surgical tools and implants with high imaging precision
• Possibility of pre-planning the surgery and pre-selection of the implants
• Combination of surgical navigation and robotic guidance
• Zero chances of injury to the nerve elements
• Significant reduction in hospitalization time
• Quick return to activities

Is the robotic system appropriate for treating scoliosis and kyphosis?

“Robotic navigation was originally designed for patients suffering from spinal deformity in whom the implant placement process is extremely demanding. Its advantages include the ease and precision in the placement of the implants, but also the reduction of the possibility of causing neurological damage.

But the correction of scoliosis or kyphosis is equally impressive, while its use is also indicated for other diseases”, he adds:

• Spinal stenosis
• Discopathy-intervertebral disc degeneration
• Fractures of the spine
• Spondylolisthesis
• Tumors of the spine

Why should a patient with scoliosis or kyphosis prefer surgery with robotic technology instead of conventional technology?

“The advantages of robotic surgery compared to conventional techniques clearly point to the superiority of robotic technology both in patient safety and in achieving ideal results from an aesthetic and functional point of view. Compared to conventional spine surgery options and techniques, the robotic system offers a multitude of advantages,” Mr. Lykissas points out.

Specifically:

• Minimizes the possibility of neurological damage
• Ensures absolute precision in implant placement
• Ensures the best possible correction of scoliosis
• Significantly reduces surgical time
• Significantly reduces blood loss
• Significantly reduces hospital stay
• Minimizes the possibility of a new operation in the future

Is there an age restriction to use surgical navigation?

“There is no age limit to the use of surgical navigation to treat scoliosis and kyphosis. Robotics can be helpful for patients of all ages, from children to adults. Treatment options must be individualized for each patient, taking into account the severity of their condition, their age and their general health,” concludes Mr. Lykissas.

*The Metropolitan Hospital has Children and Adolescent Scoliosis Center and Spine Surgery Center, which provide a unique solution that combines the Excelsius GPS robotic system, O-arm Navigation II intraoperative navigation, and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring for the treatment of scoliosis and kyphosis. These systems offer exceptional ease and precision in implant placement and achieve impressive results. Based on a study by the Spine Surgery Center, the average correction of the deformity exceeds 90% compared to the initial grade, while many patients achieve 100%. This rate of scoliosis correction considered globally high and is directly linked to the selection of the most suitable implants with the support of robotic technology and navigation.