Surgeons Transform Spine Care at Merit Health Wesley Using Robotic Technology

10/26/2021

Hattiesburg, MS - Robotic-guided spine surgery continues to evolve. With each new generation of robotic guidance systems, surgeons have better tools so they can offer patients the most advanced care and minimally invasive procedures to address neck and back pain. The spine surgeons at Merit Health Wesley now offer robotic-guided surgery as an option to some of their patients.

“Robotic guidance allows us to provide surgical spine care that has increased planning and precision,” says David Lee, M.D., medical director of surgical spine services at Merit Health Wesley.

Spine surgeons use detailed images of a patient’s spine to map exactly where the surgeon will place the instruments to perform the procedure. The robotic arm supports accurate placement of screws in the bone and the system gives the surgeon a real-time view inside the body, eliminating the need for an open surgical procedure.

“Robotic guidance has made minimally invasive fusion surgery possible,” says Lee. “Spine fusion can make a significant difference in relieving a patient’s pain and improving their quality of life.”

In minimally invasive spine surgery, the surgeon makes small incisions in the skin to place screws within the spine. This can allow for faster healing, shorter hospital stays and less blood loss during surgery.

Merit Health Wesley’s spine care surgeons, including Lee, Jay Antinnes, M.D., and Michael Patterson, M.D., offer surgical solutions to patients suffering from chronic back pain.

To learn more about spine care at Merit Health Wesley, call (601) 268-8191 or visit MeritHealthBackPain.com.

Back