How effective is AI Robot surgery for herniated disc?

A giant leap forward

Dr. Nguyen Duc Anh - Head of the Department of Neurosurgery - Spine, Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi , said that tens of millions of Vietnamese people are suffering from spinal-neurological diseases such as herniated disc, sciatica, spinal degeneration, curvature, scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal tumors...

Most patients have to face prolonged pain, depend on painkillers, and miss the golden treatment time because of fear that surgery will cause paralysis or even death.

The doctor is checking the patient's spinal function. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Modern medicine has recently made great strides with the advent of high-tech techniques and equipment, integrating AI, overcoming the limitations of traditional open surgery.

High-tech 'ecosystem' specializing in surgery for spinal and neurological diseases

Master, Doctor, CKII Chu Tan Si, Head of Neurosurgery - Spine, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that super machines such as AI Robot, AI Neuro-Guide Positioning, AI Microsurgery, UBE spinal endoscopic surgery technique, MISS minimally invasive surgery... form a high-tech 'ecosystem' specializing in surgery for spinal - neurological diseases. The effectiveness has been proven by thousands of real cases.

The AI ​​robot allows doctors to intervene in the spine through a microscopic incision (about 1 cm), accurately locate the lesion, guide and monitor the incision, and preserve the nerve fibers and roots around the spine.

"AI robots allow surgeons to simulate surgery without time limits, proactively choosing the optimal and safest surgical path," said Dr. Tan Si.

During surgery, the robot with an extremely sharp 3D camera, magnified many times, and an automatic moving arm, helps the doctor clearly observe the bones, spine, herniated mass, nerve bundles, including hidden corners that traditional surgery cannot reach.

High-tech equipment integrated with AI has created a breakthrough, overcoming the limitations of traditional open surgery methods. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Modern technology

Modern technologies such as the AI ​​Neuro-Navigation Curve system act as a "compass" to help doctors navigate surgical instruments to the correct location of the lesion without damaging motor and sensory nerves.

K.Zeiss Kinevo 900 microsurgical microscope with integrated AI magnifies 20-25 times, allowing doctors to observe in detail spinal-neural structures and lesions such as herniated discs, spinal cord tumors, sharp 3D images, ensuring effective surgery.

"We also use a neurophysiological monitoring system (IONM) to continuously monitor nerve function from the brain to the legs throughout the surgery, sending warnings so that the doctor can make timely adjustments," said Dr. Tan Si.

Doctor guides patient Bich to practice walking after 2 days of disc herniation surgery using high-tech AI. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Female patient Bich, 21 years old, in Ho Chi Minh City, is a typical example of escaping the risk of paralysis thanks to AI. Exercising in the wrong way at the gym caused this patient to have a herniated disc L4-L5-S1, pain spreading from the lower back to the thighs and feet.

The herniated mass compresses the spinal cord, causing the risk of paralysis and bowel dysfunction. Thanks to the laparoscopic surgery technique combined with 3D fluorescence AI microsurgery, the doctor accurately located the lesion, completely removed the nucleus pulposus through two incisions of only 1 cm, preserving maximum healthy tissue. After surgery, the patient recovered well, no more pain, and walked normally.

Another case is Mrs. Trac, 80 years old in Dong Nai , with a herniated thoracic vertebrae D10-D11 compressing the spinal cord and nerve roots, at risk of paralysis of both legs and loss of sensation.

Identifying this as a difficult surgery, doctors at Tam Anh Hospital used the AI ​​Modus V Synaptive Robot to simulate the surgery in advance on specialized software.

The doctor proactively chose the optimal surgical path, avoiding damage to nerves and healthy tissue. During the surgery, the robot guided and monitored continuously, the doctor removed the hernia accurately. Ms. Trac regained consciousness after only 4 hours, was pain-free, and was discharged after a day.

Doctors apply AI technology to perform spinal surgery on Ms. Trac. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

According to Dr. Tan Si, thanks to advanced AI technology, spinal-neuro surgeries have a very high success rate, over 95%. The 1-2 cm incision is much smaller than open surgery, reducing pain, the risk of infection and bad scars. Average blood loss is reduced by 79%, surgery time is shortened by 20%, patients can walk after 1-2 days and be discharged after 2-3 days compared to 7-10 days or more before.

Full recovery time is only 2–3 weeks, instead of 2–3 months. Treatment costs are 30–40 times lower than in the US with the same technology, and full health insurance is covered as prescribed.

Nowadays, many other high technologies are also applied in spinal-neuro surgery. Among them, the MISONIX ultrasonic cutting drill helps to cut bones precisely.

The Karl Storz 4K endoscope allows access to nerve structures through incisions of less than 1cm. The Aesculap high-speed burr allows for quick and precise removal of osteophytes.

Modern techniques such as percutaneous spinal screw fixation, interbody fusion, endoscopic discectomy, spinal decompression...

"We aim to become a high-tech center for neurological, cranial and spinal treatment, contributing to building high-quality healthcare in Vietnam," said Dr. Tan Si.

See more doctors using AI technology to operate on a girl's spinal cord hemangioma and patient sharing

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thoat-vi-dia-dem-nho-robot-ai-mo-hieu-qua-ra-sao-20250519232516368.htm