Henry Ford Allegiance Health First in Michigan to Introduce Minimally Invasive Robotic Spine Surgery System

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Jackson-based Henry Ford Allegiance Health, one of six hospitals operated by Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, today announced it is the first in Michigan to offer patients the ExcelciusGPSTM surgical system.

The system provides for minimally invasive spine surgery by combining the benefits of navigation and robotics into one technology. The technology is designed to increase safety for patients and accuracy for surgeons.

“Robot-assisted surgery is a new, emerging area that will become the standard in care,” says Dr. Frank La Marca, a Henry Ford Allegiance Health neurosurgeon. “We are excited to offer our patients the advantages of the Excelcius system, which allows us to perform minimally invasive procedures which may result in less blood loss, less muscle damage, and a potentially faster recovery.”

One of the advantages of the ExcelciusGPS system is the inclusion of a GPS 3-D guidance system, designed to improve accuracy and optimize patient care by combining robotics with navigation, much like the GPS in a car. The advanced technology allows a neurosurgeon to place screws and implants in a very precise fashion while seeing exactly where to place instruments in real-time.

“The GPS navigation gives me continuous feedback and allows me to see everything in real time,” says Dr. Azam Basheer, a Henry Ford Allegiance neurosurgeon. “Now, my colleagues and I can preprogram coordinates, so the robotic arm can assist in guiding us to precise locations in the patient’s spine. The result is safer, faster surgery with less radiation exposure and less need to reposition my patient.”

Another advantage of ExcelciusGPS is that it allows neurosurgeons to make safer, more consistent, and smaller incisions. The results promote better healing and lessen scarring.

Henry Ford Allegiance Health is a 475-bed health system. Henry Ford Health System and its six hospitals are one of the nation’s leading comprehensive, integrated health systems, recognized for clinical excellence and innovation.

It provides health insurance and health care delivery, including acute, specialty, primary and preventive care services backed by excellence in research and education.