SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Ivanhoe Newswire) — It’s called the o-arm and doctors say it’s revolutionizing spinal surgery. The robotic arm rotates around the patient in the OR and gives doctors a real-time, 3D look at how the surgery is progressing.
Jonathan Duncan, MD , an orthopaedic spine surgeon at San Antonio Orthopaedic Group and Baptist Health System said, “It’s like getting a CT scan while you’re still in the operating room, so that if anything is out of place, we can fix it immediately.”
The O-Arm navigation technology uses two and 3D technology, encircling the patient on the table. This eliminates the need to wheel them into radiology during or after surgery. Surgeons can literally see the patient’s spine during the operation, giving them a clear, live view if changes need to be made.
“It can also be a tool hopefully to prevent unnecessary surgeries or repeat surgeries or revision surgeries because of misplaced screws or spinal instruments,” said Dr. Duncan.
Critical for patients like Louann Thompson, who endured multiple surgeries on her spine for scoliosis, degenerative disc disease and spinal deformities.
Thompson told Ivanhoe, “I had in my left leg a very sharp, horrible pain in my left leg that left me unable to walk.”
Suffering excruciating pain, she remained bedbound for 45 days before undergoing surgery with Dr. Duncan, who inserted spacers into her discs and hardware to support her spine.
“He went through my front and took out everything and cleaned up the front, and then they rotated me like a rotisserie chicken and did the same thing from the back,” said Thompson.
This stabilized her spine to prevent further pain and degeneration.
“My mobility is better. I feel more stable,” she said.
The O-Arm also utilizes 3D navigational technology–GPS, like in your car, to help locate the critical points in the patient’s spine. And it’s all done without ever moving the patient.
Contributors to this news report include: Donna Parker, Field Producer; Bruce Maniscalco, Videographer; Cyndy McGrath, Supervising Producer; Hayley Hudson, Assistant Producer; Robert Walko, Editor.
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MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: O-ARM SURGERY FOR BETTER BACKS
REPORT: MB #4532
BACKGROUND: Scoliosis is the curving of the spine. It usually happens to children during their growth spurt. Most of the cases are mild, but it can become more severe causing spine deformities and disabilities. If the severity of the curvature is too bad, there could be less space for the chest causing the lungs to not function properly. The most common cause of the disorder is still unknown, but hereditary factors may play a part as the disorder runs in families. Other less common reasons are birth defects, injuries to the spine and neuromuscular conditions such as cerebral palsy.
(Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scoliosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350716)
DIAGNOSING: Some of the most common symptoms are uneven shoulders, uneven waist, one hip is higher than the other, or one side of the ribs is showing more than the other. In mild cases, it is hard to tell as there is not any pain and appears gradually. Most often, sports teams will find out about the disorder first. A few tests are performed to assess the severity of the curve in the spine. The first test is the Adam’s Forward Bend. The doctor asks the patient to lean forward 90 degrees and stretch out the arms. While still bent, the doctor takes a scoliometer, or inclinometer, to measure the curve. To diagnose, the lateral curve, or Cobb angle, axial rotation and skeletal maturity are all taken into account. There are five different types of scoliosis. Congenital, which is present at birth, neuromuscular, degenerative and nonstructural are the other types, but if all four are ruled out, then the diagnosis is idiopathic.
(Source: https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/scoliosis/scoliosis-diagnosis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scoliosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350716
NEW TECHNOLOGY: There are three types of treatment for scoliosis patients. Depending on the type of scoliosis, doctors can either keep observing it over time, get it braced or perform surgery. For more mild cases, doctors use X-Rays over three to four months to make sure that the curve does not worsen. Surgery is usually performed when the angle is more than 40 degrees. Screws, rods, and hooks are inserted to try correct the spine, but sometimes patients have to have multiple surgeries.. Now, there is the O-Arm. This device sits over the patient while the doctor performs the surgery. According to Dr. Jonathon Duncan, the O-Arm gives a clearer picture for surgeons. It is almost like a CT scan instead of X-ray. The picture comes out in both 2D and 3D.
(Source: https://www.medicinenet.com/scoliosis/article.htm https://healthcare-in-europe.com/en/news/next-generation-o-arm-surgical-imaging-system.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Natalie A. Gutierrez, Manager, Operations Communications and PR
210-297-1028
Natalie.Gutierrez@Baptisthealthsystem.com
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
