The surgical treatment of spine diseases is a subject that few specialized surgeons possess both in Greece and internationally. The three-dimensional and complex structure of the spine, as well as the multitude of its diseases, were and are the cause of repeated medical errors and dissatisfied patients.

Another peculiarity of the spine is the fact that it houses sensitive anatomical elements such as the spinal cord and nerve roots, the damage of which can lead to extremely serious complications. The international medical community, with the help of the largest international spine societies such as the North American Spine Society (NASS), the European Spine Society (Eurospine) and the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), is trying to reduce the number and seriousness of the neurological complications in spine surgery, set as a basic condition the involvement of surgeons, who have proven to be specialized in the specific subject.

Unfortunately, despite the high expertise of the medical staff and continuous monitoring of nerve function during surgery, with the help of neurophysiological monitoring, neurological damage continues to occur during spinal surgeries.
“In recent years, starting in the USA, a robotic navigation system has been developed and implemented in spine surgery that allows the surgeon to monitor the placement of implants in real time with the precision of a CT scanner.

Any patient with a spinal problem who is indicated for surgery can benefit from this system. Diseases that can be treated with this system include disc disease, spinal fractures, scoliosis (adults and children), kyphosis (adults and children), spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, spinal tumors but and many others” says Mr. Marios Lykissas, Director of the Spine Clinic at Metropolitan Hospital, who then clears up the myths from the truths about spine surgery.

After a spinal surgery is there a high risk of paralysis?

It’s a Myth: All surgery carries risks, but the chance of paralysis in spinal surgery using modern surgical techniques is now extremely small. In the last decade, starting in the USA, robotic surgery has been developed and applied to spine surgery. As the human factor is removed and the operation is performed with robotic navigation, the possibility of medical error as well as the induction of paralysis is minimized.

After surgery on the spine due to scoliosis, activities will be significantly limited

This is a Myth: After surgery, many people believe that they will not be able to participate in activities such as horse riding, ballet, dancing, gymnastics and diving. All people with scoliosis can now after surgery with the help of robotic navigation return to all these activities usually after a period of 3-6 months depending on the sport. Contact sports are an exception, where this period is extended to one year.

Robots do calculations, they don’t make decisions

This is Truth: The robotic arm used during surgery responds to the precise calculations made by the surgeon and in no way replaces the surgeon himself. He makes all the decisions and maintains absolute control throughout the surgery. Like any other tool used in surgery, the robot helps the surgeon do his job more efficiently and safely.

Robotic navigation ensures greater precision in spine surgery.

It’s True: Robotic surgery is clearly a safer alternative to conventional surgery, especially in surgeries that require extreme precision like spine surgery. That’s because robots place implants far more precisely than a doctor’s hand can.

According to a recent study of placement of more than 3,000 implants with the help of the robot, the placement accuracy rate was 98.3%. For implants placed by the human hand, even the best spine surgeons in the world rarely exceed 91% accuracy. For the patient, this improved accuracy translates into safety, smaller incisions, reduced risk of infection, less blood loss, faster recovery and less hospital stay.

*Metropolitan Hospital has the Child & Adolescent Scoliosis Center, as well as the Spine Surgery Center, which provide a unique solution combining the Excelsius GPS robotic system, O-arm Navigation II, and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring for treatment of scoliosis and kyphosis. These systems offer exceptional ease and precision in implant placement and achieve impressive results.

Based on the center’s study, the average correction of the deformity exceeds 90%, compared to the initial grade, while many patients achieve 100%. This rate of scoliosis correction is considered globally high and is directly related to the selection of the most suitable implants with the support of robotic technology and navigation.