Surgeons at the Virginia Spine Institute (VSI) are the first to perform surgery using Medtronic’s FDA-cleared Stealth Axis Autopilot robot in a shift towards more connected, data-driven spine surgery.

VSI, one of the USA’s leading spine centres, announced that spine surgeons Christopher Good, Colin Haines and Ehsan Jazini are the first in the world to use the platform, marking an advancement in robotic spine surgery, combining AI-powered surgical planning, segmental tracking, navigation and robotics in one platform.

“This is more than an evolution of surgical technology, it’s a shift in what patients can expect from spine surgery in the future,” said Good. “At VSI, we’re leading an era where precision and confidence are higher than ever, and that improves the surgical experience and, most importantly, optimises recovery for our patients.”

In this milestone procedure performed at HCA Virginia’s Reston Hospital Center, a patient underwent a staged procedure, including a single-level direct lateral interbody fusion followed by a three-level posterior instrumented spinal fusion with laminectomy and bilateral SI joint fusion. After decades of back pain that failed to resolve with more conservative treatment, the patient chose to undergo this surgery. The use of the Stealth Axis Autopilot robot enabled real-time segmental tracking, integrated navigation and robotic guidance, enhancing accuracy throughout the procedure, optimising alignment, reducing radiation exposure and supporting a safer, more optimised recovery for the patient.

“This advancement in technology allows us to take an even more individualised approach to every surgery,” said Jazini. “Each patient’s spine is unique, and having real-time insight throughout the procedure helps us tailor each decision to the patient in front of us.”

Haines added: “Ultimately, it’s enabling us to deliver safer care, minimise disruption to the body and help patients return to the lives they want to live as quickly as possible.”

The Medtronic (www.medtronic.com) Stealth Axis Autopilot eliminates a blind spot by tracking each vertebra’s position continuously throughout surgery, and in real time. It gives surgeons live updates as the spine moves. Previous studies led by VSI (www.spinemd.com) have shown that robotic guidance can reduce radiation exposure by 76%, an elevenfold reduction in revision risk and a nearly sixfold reduction in complications compared with traditional methods.