Innovative robotic spine surgery helps patient regain mobility after years of pain
Fifty-two-year-old Brenda Weniger has lived in pain for a majority of her life due to a connective tissue disorder and hypermobility.
“I used to live on a farm, which was a lot of work, and I was an athlete,” Weniger said. “My back was constantly in pain.”
After four children, her back pain worsened to the point where she needed crutches to walk. Weniger eventually had her first spine surgery at age 50. Unfortunately, the surgery did not do what was intended, leaving Weniger in severe pain where she couldn’t stand for more than a couple of minutes.
Following a year of pain, Weniger’s rheumatologist referred her to Rohan Lall, MD, a neurosurgeon with M Health Fairview, who is specialized in complex and robotic spine surgery.
Lall is a part of a multidisciplinary team at M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital focused on helping patients like Weniger stabilize their spine and regain mobility. Using an innovative, precision surgical technique, the Mazor surgical robot allows our surgeons to expertly plot out the best surgical plan and is a new implementation of robotics in spine surgery. At this time, the Mazor is specifically used in fusion surgeries, wherein surgeons will fuse parts of the spine together to create more stability for the patient.
“In many cases, we’re able to do less invasive surgeries with this technology,” Lall said. “This results in faster recoveries and less time in the hospital for patients. It’s made the surgeries themselves more precise for us and easier for them.”
Since M Health Fairview began using this technology in 2019, Lall is encouraged by the potential it has to grow and continue to benefit both providers and patients. “I think this technology is going to dramatically expand the field. I have already seen how it can help us in surgery.”
This year, Weniger was part of a major milestone, being the 100th patient to undergo Mazor spinal surgery at Southdale Hospital with our experts. Along with being available at Southdale, the Mazor technology is available at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center – West Bank. Since her surgery, Weniger is growing stronger and more confident with her movement every day.
“I really appreciate the team that worked with me. They told me everything that was going to happen,” she said. “I still have to be careful of how I turn and move, but I just feel more secure. Everything is healing properly.”
If you or a loved one need spine care, call us at 612-672-7100 to schedule an appointment.
