Indian Spinal Injuries Centre integrates 3D imaging robotic surgery technology O-Arm

The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) claims it has become the first healthcare facility in India to integrate O-Arm technology into its surgical procedure into its facility. The technology allows spine surgeons to visualize the surgical site in real-time using 3D imaging technology. Doing so allows more precise placement of instruments during the surgery, thereby enhancing the outcomes. It’s also useful for orthopaedic and neurological procedures.

O-Arm isn’t particularly new technology though, having been in existence since 2006. However, the technology is considered to be essential and is a standard for spinal surgeries globally. ISIC doctors recently operated on two young girls, suffering from spinal deformity, using the newly integrated system.

13-year-old Swati from New Delhi was diagnosed with early onset thoracic scoliosis that bent her spine at 85 degrees, while 16-year-old Mannatpreet was suffering from spinal tuberculosis since 2018 and had difficulty walking, the ISIC said. It also claimed that the treatment combining robotics and O-Arm not only helped in improving the accuracy of inserting screws during the surgeries, but also lowered the risk of paralysis, exposure to radiation, blood loss and postoperative pain. 

“The spine is the central support structure of the body and hub of several important nerves travelling to other parts of the body. A wrong or extra cut can affect the patient for life,” said Dr. HS Chhabra, Medical Director and Chief of Spine at the ISIC. “Only a handful of healthcare providers in India use robotics platforms for surgeries in the cities like New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai,” he added.