Israeli Surgeons Perform World’s First-Ever Dual Robotic Surgery

Israeli doctors made history last week when they performed the world’s first-of-its-kind dual robotic surgery.   

Israeli doctors at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, in Jerusalem, made history last week when they performed the world’s first-of-its-kind dual robotic surgery.

The revolutionary dual robotic surgery assisted in the repair of a severe spinal fracture suffered by Aharon Schwartz, 42, a Jerusalem factory worker injured when a steel object pinned him to the ground, fracturing his leg in two places and breaking six of his spinal vertebrae.

The three-hour-long procedure took place in the state-of-the-art $30M underground hybrid operating theater at Hadassah’s Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower.

Dr. Meir Liebergall, Chairman of the Hadassah Medical Organization’s (HMO) Orthopedic Department and head of HMO’s Musculo-Skeletal Medicine Division, explained the pioneering surgery, “Two robots, Siemens’ Artis Zeego and the Mazor Robotics’ Renaissance Guidance System, were involved in the surgery.”

The Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System transforms spine surgery from freehand procedures to highly-accurate, state-of-the-art procedures that may reduce fluoroscopy—even for minimally-invasive surgery (MIS), scoliosis, and other complex spinal deformities.

The Siemens Artis Zeego Robotic Technology enables smoother, swifter and trouble-free patient positioning and execution procedures.

Artis Zeego, overseen by Dr. Amal Khouri, Director of HMO’s Orthopedic Hospitalization Center, provided real-time 3-dimensional imaging during the surgical procedure, which eliminated the need for pre-surgery CT scans and post-surgery X-rays.

Renaissance Guidance System, a screw placement system which allows spinal implant placement with maximum safety and accuracy, was controlled by HMO Sr. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Josh Schroeder.

Renaissance communicated with Artis Zeego during the minimally-invasive surgery while Dr. Schroeder led the Hadassah orthopedic team in the insertion of eleven pedicle screws into the patient’s spine “with clinical exactitude.”

Liebergall predicted that Schwartz will completely recover and will be walking again very shortly.

“Once again, HMO achieves another world-first – a dual robot-assisted spinal surgery, solidifying its reputation for world class medical innovation and treatment,” said National President Ellen Hershkin of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA).

She conveyed HWZOA’s congratulations to Liebergall and his “brilliant surgical team” for “continuing Hadassah’s mission of bringing ground-breaking medical care to the people of Israel.”

By: United with Israel Staff