Databases, Study Groups, and Evidence in Robotic Spine Surgery

Robotic-assisted spine surgery is a major area for research and innovation in spine surgery today. Multiple studies have confirmed the high accuracy of the placement of spinal instrumentation with robotic assistance. The literature related to the outcomes associated with robotic-assisted spine surgery is currently lacking and most studies are limited by their retrospective design, small sample sizes, and significant heterogeneity. The utilization of both national and robotics-specific databases may be one method to increase the statistical power of robotics research, as in other fields. The formation of study groups focused on spinal robotics may prove to be one method by which to combine and analyze large volumes of robotics-specific data in order to fully understand the potential benefits of these advanced technologies.