Robotic assistance in revision spine surgery: a scoping review.
Publication Title
J Robot Surg
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-17-2026
Keywords
washington; swedish; swedish neuroscience
Abstract
As the number of primary spinal procedures continues to rise, so too does the volume of revision spine surgeries. Revision surgeries have specific challenges in altered osseous anatomy, scar tissue, compromised anatomical landmarks, and pre-existing hardware. Robotic-assisted spine surgery (RSS) is a new technology which may help offset these challenges. While RSS in primary procedures has received increasing attention, its utility in revision surgery remains unclear. This review sought to investigate the applications, precision, and outcomes of robotic assistance in revision spine surgery. A systematic search of 5 electronic databases was completed through October 2025. After the removal of duplicates, title/abstract and full text screenings were performed by two independent reviewers. Study designs, patient demographics, robotic systems, surgical procedures, precision, and results were recorded from relevant articles. The initial search on revision RSS generated 299 records. After the screening process, only 2 articles were deemed relevant, constituting the primary basis of this review. Twenty-one additional references were obtained to provide narrative supplement. These studies reported revision RSS achieved accurate pedicle screw placement in between 96.1% and 99.8% of screws. Major uses included strategic osteotomy planning, redrilling of novel screw trajectories within the fusion mass, and safe placement of high-risk screws. Robotic assistance also mitigated uncertainty associated with traversing abnormal surgical anatomy inherent to revision cases. Robotic assistance in revision spine surgery offers increased accuracy for screw placement, exceeding conventional computer-assisted navigation. In addition to screw placement, robotic assistance holds potential to enhance preoperative planning, technical execution, and patient outcomes.
Area of Special Interest
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Specialty/Research Institute
Neurosciences
Specialty/Research Institute
Surgery
DOI
10.1007/s11701-026-03324-6
