Spine surgeons and health systems are adopting technologies ranging from robotic guidance and patient-specific implants to AI-assisted triage, endoscopic surgery and lower-cost navigation tools.
Recent Becker’s reporting highlights five areas of technology adoption, including investments by health systems and experiences shared by spine surgeons.
1. Robotics: Bryan Lee, MD, a complex spine neurosurgeon at Barrow Brain and Spine in Phoenix, told Becker’s that a high-cost robotic platform did not outperform his established navigation workflow in efficiency or reliability after more than 15 cases.
“Robotic spine surgery is not yet a replacement for well-established, high-performing workflows,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health performed two minimally invasive spinal fusions Oct. 13 using Medtronic’s Stealth AXiS system. Neurosurgeon Aaron Clark, MD, performed the procedures at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco using robotic guidance with rods and implants designed for each patient’s anatomy.
2. AI-assisted patient triage: Michael Verdon, DO, a spine surgeon at Dayton (Ohio) Neurologic Associates, told Becker’s that his practice’s algorithmic triage system doubled clinic throughput and increased surgical volume about 10%.
The practice has used the tool for approximately three years. When patients request referrals, office staff use software that guides them through questions about symptom severity to help determine the appropriate level of care and appointment scheduling.
“The patients get early treatment with the right person at the right time,” Dr. Verdon said.
3. Endoscopic spine surgery: Daniel Park, MD, a professor of orthopedic spine surgery at Rush Medical College and spine surgeon at Chicago-based Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, told Becker’s that fellowship applicants increasingly ask whether training programs offer endoscopic experience.
“The new generation are the ones that are going to push this,” he said.
Dr. Park, who began performing endoscopic spine surgery around 2017, estimated that 5% to 10% of U.S. spine surgeons currently use endoscopic techniques. He predicted adoption could eventually reach 40%.
He also emphasized the need for clinical research demonstrating long-term benefits over established surgical approaches. Other surgeons have raised concerns about equipment costs, operating time and training requirements.
4. Lower-cost navigation: Paul McAfee, MD, director of the Scoliosis and Spine Center of Maryland in Baltimore, highlighted a phone-based navigation approach using an iPhone in a sterile mount costing approximately $1,200.
Dr. McAfee contrasted the setup with surgical navigation systems that can cost $1.5 million.
The reported costs refer to different types of navigation technology and do not establish equivalent capabilities or clinical performance.
5. Patient-specific surgical planning: UC San Diego Health completed a spine operation at Jacobs Medical Center using an AI-guided robotic platform that integrates imaging, spinal alignment planning, patient-specific implants and robot-guided screw placement.
Sutter Health has also incorporated patient-specific rods and implants into its robotic spine program. The health system performed two minimally invasive spinal fusions using the technology Oct. 13 at California Pacific Medical Center.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
