Curvature of the spine, or scoliosis, is a problem that usually develops in adolescence and more often in girls. At a sensitive age, scoliosis can affect a young person’s appearance, posture, gait and self-image. In most cases it can be treated by close supervision and bracing. However, when those methods fail, surgery is the recommended option.
UT Health Tyler leverages the state-of-the-art Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System for precision scoliosis surgery. This advanced medical equipment, in the hands of a trained physician, helps correct the health-threatening condition of scoliosis before it can twist and cripple the life of a young person.
Using the system’s software, surgeons create 3-D images of the patient’s curved spine, compare it with an ideal straightened spine image and map out a detailed plan to bring the patient’s anatomy into alignment. The robotic system then guides the surgeon’s precise placement of each pin and rod. Every patient has a customized surgery designed for that patient alone.
He emphasized that “every twist of the screw or turn of the drill is done by my hands,” and that he always maintains full control of the surgery. The planning software and robotic guidance simply make him a better surgeon.
Benefits for the patient
- reduces time of the surgery
- increases the accuracy of the surgery
- improves outcomes for the surgery
- reduces complications, infections and the need for revisions
- reduces radiation exposure during the procedure
UT Health Tyler offers scoliosis surgery using the Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System.