UAB Enhances Robotic Surgery Arsenal with the Addition of State-of-the-Art Spine Robot

The University of Alabama at Birmingham surpassed 20,000 robotic surgeries in early 2023. A leader in minimally invasive, robotic surgeries, UAB Medicine is expanding its portfolio with the addition of a spine robot.

“Spine surgery is incredibly precise, with many of our targets being half a centimeter wide, and there is little to no tolerance for error,” said Jake Godzik, M.D., neurosurgeon and assistant professor in the UAB Department of Neurosurgery. “Using the robotic techniques does not revolutionize what we do, but it allows an experienced team to be more precise and consistent and even tackle more complex surgeries.”

UAB Medicine recently added an ExcelsiusGPS® spine robot by Globus Medical. UAB Hospital is the only hospital in Birmingham with the new technology. Currently, the Department of Neurosurgery uses the robot for instrument placement and treating degenerative conditions in the spine.

Besides enhancing precision in execution, the robot is minimally invasive, allowing for quicker recovery times for patients. Godzik also notes that the technology is beneficial in trauma situations where patients may not be stable enough to undergo a large operation but need surgical intervention.

Godzik says the addition of the robot places UAB on the next phase of advancement in minimally invasive, robotic surgeries.

“Robotic surgeries have been around for some time but are just now being integrated into the world of neurosurgery,” Godzik said. “Moving forward, I hope to see the robot integrated into a variety of specialties and surgeries across UAB to continue to advance our patient care.”