Vassilios G. Dimopoulos, MD, FAANS Minimally Invasive Spine Neurosurgery
Surgical approaches

Robotic spine surgery

Combining detailed pre-operative planning with computer-assisted navigation, robotic guidance helps place spinal implants along a precise, pre-planned path — often through small, minimally invasive incisions.

What robotic spine surgery is

Robotic systems do not operate on their own. They are precision tools that extend the surgeon’s control: the surgeon plans the operation in detail on a 3D model of your spine, and during surgery the robotic arm and navigation system help guide instruments and implants along that exact plan. The surgeon remains in control at every step.

Used together with minimally invasive corridors, robotic assistance supports accurate placement of screws and other hardware through small incisions, with the aim of consistency and precision.

Watch: how it works

The short animation below illustrates the general principles for patient education.

Educational video for robotic spine surgery. This animation is provided for general patient education only. It is illustrative, does not depict an actual patient, and is not medical advice. Every patient and condition is different, and previous results do not guarantee future outcomes. Animation courtesy of Globus Medical, used with permission for patient education. These videos are provided for patient education only and do not imply that Dr. Dimopoulos endorses, recommends, or confirms the validity of any particular product, device, or system shown.

How the procedure is done, step by step

  1. 3D surgical planning

    A detailed scan of your spine is used to build a three-dimensional model. The surgeon plans the ideal size and trajectory of each implant in advance, before any incision is made.

  2. Registration and navigation

    In the operating room, the planned model is matched to your actual anatomy using imaging, so the navigation system knows precisely where each instrument is in real time.

  3. Guided placement through small incisions

    The robotic arm positions itself along the planned path. Working through minimally invasive corridors, the surgeon places screws and hardware along that guided trajectory.

  4. Verification

    Placement is confirmed with imaging before the procedure is completed, allowing any needed adjustment.

  5. Closure and recovery

    The small incisions are closed, and your recovery plan is reviewed with you. Length of stay depends on the specific procedure performed.

Potential advantages reported in the literature

Robotic assistance is one tool among several, suitable for selected cases. The points above reflect general findings reported in the surgical literature and are not a guarantee of any outcome. Candidacy depends on your individual diagnosis and anatomy.

References & further reading

Peer-reviewed sources that informed this page, provided for further reading (written for a medical audience).

  1. Farber SH, Pacult MA, Godzik J, Walker CT, Turner JD, Porter RW, Uribe JS. Robotics in spine surgery: a technical overview and review of key concepts. Front Surg. 2021;8:578674. View
  2. Park J, Ham DW, Kwon BT, Park SM, Kim HJ, Yeom JS. Minimally invasive spine surgery: techniques, technologies, and indications. Asian Spine J. 2020;14(5):694–701. View
  3. Yoon JW, Wang MY. The evolution of minimally invasive spine surgery. J Neurosurg Spine. 2019;30:149–158. View