Introduction
Robots have been used in several surgical specialties over the past thirty years because of their increasing stability and adaptability in the operating room. Robots were introduced into the neurosurgical area to enhance the quality of various operating procedures that need a greater level of safety and precision. A more accurate surgical incision results in less discomfort, shortening hospital stays. This is another benefit of using robot assistance in surgery. Because the brain is more vulnerable to harm even from little tool deviations and is symmetrically restricted within the stiff cranial vault, it is considered an excellent candidate for robotic use. In 1985, robotics was introduced into the neurosurgery operating room to hold and adjust biopsy cannulae.
Nowadays, many neurosurgery operations employ ROSAs (Robotized Surgical Assistants). It comprises a robotic arm that assists in placing electrodes and a computer brain that displays pictures. Since 2007, ROSA has been employed in minimally invasive neurosurgeries, such as spinal pedicle screw fixation, ablation of epileptogenic foci, and lead installation for deep brain stimulation and depth electrode implantation for seizure monitoring. Robots can carry out both craniofacial and spine procedures.
What Is Robot-Assisted Neurosurgery?
In the past, neurosurgery depended on the surgeon's competence and accuracy to handle the vulnerable human brain. However, new developments in technology have led to the development of robot-assisted neurosurgery, which provides a less intrusive and perhaps more accurate method of brain surgery.
In minimally invasive brain surgery, surgeons use a robotic arm known as a neurosurgical robot or ROSA Brain in a technique known as robot-assisted neurosurgery. A neuro-navigation system, which functions similarly to a GPS for the brain, guides this robotic arm. The technology is preloaded with brain scans of the patient, which enables the surgeon to perform and plan the surgery with remarkable precision.
What Are the Conditions Treated With Robot-Assisted Neurosurgery?
Numerous brain operations may be performed with robot-assisted neurosurgery, such as:
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Brain Tumor Surgery: Preserving healthy tissue can be aided by more precisely excising brain tumors.
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Surgery for Epilepsy: A patient's quality of life can be greatly enhanced by focusing on the precise parts of the brain that cause seizures.
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Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): DBS therapy involves implanting electrodes to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
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Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Using precise radiation doses to treat cancers and other brain lesions is known as stereotactic radiosurgery.
What Are the Benefits of Robot-Assisted Neurosurgery?
This minimally invasive technique has several important benefits over open brain surgery for patients and doctors.
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Enhanced Surgical Precision: Hand-eye coordination is a need for many traditional surgical techniques, and it can be prone to tremors during intricate operations. By using a robotic arm controlled by a computer, physicians doing robot-assisted surgery may work with unparalleled accuracy and eradicate tremors. This means there is less chance of unintentionally harming the surrounding healthy brain tissue when treating the target location.
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Minimally Invasive Procedures: Compared to open surgery, robot-assisted surgery allows for the use of fewer incisions. For patients, this minimally invasive method has several advantages, such as:
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Quicker Post-operative Recovery: In general, smaller incisions heal more quickly, allowing patients to leave the hospital sooner and resume their regular activities more quickly.
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Reduced Risk of Post-surgical Infections: As the incisions are smaller, there is less surface area available for bacterial contamination, which lowers the chance of post-surgical infections.
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Reduced Pain Levels: Compared to standard surgery, minimally invasive treatments usually produce less pain, meaning post-operative pain medication is used less frequently.
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Better Patient Outcomes: Robot-assisted surgery has the potential to produce better patient outcomes due to its increased accuracy and minimally invasive nature. This can include better seizure control during epilepsy surgery, a greater success rate in tumor excision, and more precise electrode placement for DBS treatment.
What Are the Limitations and Drawbacks of Robot-Assisted Neurosurgery?
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Higher Cost: RANS requires pricey technology and specialized equipment, which may increase overall surgical expenditures compared to open brain surgery.
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Restricted Long-Term Data: RANS is a relatively recent technique compared to conventional neurosurgery. Although the first findings are encouraging, more research is needed to determine the treatment's long-term efficacy and possible side effects.
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Surgeon Expertise: Surgeons with specific training and expertise with robotic systems are needed for successful RANS treatments. These surgeons might be less readily available in certain places.
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Technical Problems: While uncommon, technical problems with the robotic equipment during surgery are always possible. This could make switching to a conventional open surgical technique necessary, lengthening the process and making the surgery more difficult.
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Not Always Appropriate for All Cases: RANS may only sometimes be appropriate due to the intricacy of the particular neurological issue and the patient's anatomy. In other circumstances, traditional surgery could be a better alternative.
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Technical Dependency: Technical issues with the robotic equipment can arise during surgery; however, they are rare. This could make a move to open surgery necessary, which might lengthen and complicate the procedure.
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Case Selection: The patient's anatomy and particular neurological ailment determine whether RANS is appropriate. RANS may not be the best option for complex situations or those with anatomical restrictions; instead, standard surgery could be a better fit.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks, RANS is a noteworthy development in the field of neurosurgery. The potential downsides may lessen as surgeons gain more expertise and technology advances.
How Successful Is Robotically Assisted Surgery?
Globally, one million minimally invasive robotic surgical treatments are performed each year. The success rate of robotic surgery is 95 percent on average. With a 53 percent share, the surgical equipment and accessories market holds the highest share. They were projected to be valued at around USD 3.6 billion in 2021.
Conclusion
Robot-assisted neurosurgery is an important development in brain surgery, which provides a less intrusive and perhaps more accurate method of treating a range of neurological disorders. If a person requires brain surgery, consult the neurosurgeon about this possibility to see if it is the best course of action.
