Norton Healthcare now has the Mazor X robotic surgical system — technology that can help reduce pain and make recovery time shorter following spine surgery.

The purchase of the system was made possible with funding from Norton Healthcare and the Children’s Hospital Foundation. The move comes after a successful trial with the robotic technology, led by Jeffrey L. Gum, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon with Norton Leatherman Spine Center. The system will be used for adults and children needing surgery to correct a variety of spine issues.

HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS

Robotics technology has been used in hip and knee replacements, but it’s beginning to make its mark in the world of spine surgery. The Mazor X system uses enhanced imaging software and GPS capabilities to help surgeons map out a plan before surgery, increasing the accuracy of screw placement and improving the overall efficiency of the surgery.

“It’s all about the angle in which the screws are placed that helps us reduce muscle stripping,” Dr. Gum said.

Because Mazor X guides the screws, the size of the incision decreases from almost 5 inches to less than 2 inches. This contributes to less pain and a faster recovery.

The average length of stay for Norton Leatherman Spine patients who underwent single-level lumbar fusion surgery was 3½ days.

“We have now performed more than 20 of these surgeries using the robotics technology, and almost all of our patients have left the next day,” Dr. Gum said.

Tom Frisby was the region’s first patient to undergo spine surgery with the help of the Mazor X technology, performed by Dr. Gum. Tom, 40, had lived with pain from a herniated disc and arthritis in his lower back for about six years before deciding on spine surgery.

“I was hoping I would be able to find some way to avoid it,” he said. “I’d done chiropractic care, physical care, epidural shots, and none of it was working.”

The pain continued to compound. Tom found himself barely able to walk and struggling to stand for even 30 seconds without being overwhelmed by sharp and burning pain that shot down his leg.

“My leg felt like it was on fire most of the time,” he said. “Fortunately, I sit most of the time at work, but I was at the point where I would basically come home, take a nap, and sit watching television or sit at my computer.”

Tom’s primary care physician referred him to Dr. Gum. At that time, Norton Healthcare recently had acquired the Mazor X system on a trial basis.

Tom’s surgery consisted of a discectomy and single-level lumbar spine fusion surgery. Dr. Gum removed Tom’s herniated disc and the arthritis that was putting pressure on his spinal nerves, replaced the disc with a cage and bone graft. Dr. Gum then fused together Tom’s L4 and L5 vertebrae so that they would no longer move.

When Tom awoke after surgery, he felt an immediate difference.

“It was actually one of the first things I noticed when I woke up, was that my leg didn’t hurt anymore,” he said. “It was a powerful thing to realize.”

Tom even took a few steps that day. “I remembered standing for a while and enjoying the fact that I could stand without hurting.”

Tom went home the next morning. Within four days, he was off pain medication. One week after surgery, he was able to walk to the end of his street and back. Three weeks after surgery, he crossed a major milestone.

“My wife and I went out, and I walked a mile for the first time in I don’t remember how long — and I was almost in tears, I was so happy about it,” Tom said.

Refer a patient

To refer a patient to Norton Leatherman Spine Center, fill out the online referral form or call (502) 584-7525.