fbpx

Robotic Spine Surgery

Robotic-assisted spine surgery is the way of the future, but Dr. Douglas Crowther at Colorado Center of Orthopedic Excellence (CCOE), is pioneering its use now with the ExcelsiusGPS robotic arm system.

Unlike many other surgeons, Dr. Crowther has had years of experience performing surgeries with the ExcelsiusGPS having trained on the system while completing his fellowship at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

With his extensive skill in spine surgery, Dr. Crowther is the first at CCOE and the first in Colorado Springs to use this cutting-edge technology for spine surgery.

In July, Penrose-St. Francis, part of Centura Health was the first facility in Colorado Springs to install the groundbreaking ExcelsiusGPS which is manufactured by Globus Medical.

Robotic-Assisted Spine Surgery: How It Works

When patients hear “robotic spine surgery,” many assume that the robot is actually performing the surgery. It’s important for them to understand that the robotic arm does not do the surgery, the surgeon does. The ExcelsiusGPS is not a replacement for their experience and skill, but rather an incomparable tool that allows a good surgeon to do their best.

The ExcelsiusGPS helps a surgeon formulate a pre-operative plan, enabling them to customize their surgical approach to match a patient’s specific needs. On the day of surgery, medical images are taken and imported into the ExcelsiusGPS. The surgeon uses those images to determine the size and placement of screws and to create a surgical plan specific to the patient’s anatomy.

Throughout the procedure, the arm’s pathway, surgical instruments, and implants are continuously displayed on state-of-the-art screens in real-time for the surgeon and assistants to monitor. During surgery, the robot facilitates the plan by pointing out the precise site for screw insertions.

A New Level Of Patient Care

To Dr. Crowther, the ExcelsiusGPS facilitates a new level of patient care. And his patients are what Dr. Crowther cares most about. According to Dr. Crowther, who performs most of his surgeries at St. Francis, “spine surgery is a game of millimeters. If you have a screw that’s off just a couple of millimeters and touching a nerve or compressing a nerve, the patient could have chronic pain.”

He believes his patients deserve the best in every way. He performs his surgeries with the ExcellsiusGPS because he considers the Globus system the best and safest in every way. It shortens operating time which translates into less time under anesthesia, and it improves accuracy, which leads to an outcome that optimizes a patient’s recovery and return to pain-free mobility.

Learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery and Dr. Crowther’s expertise.

robotic spine surgery
robotic spine surgery

Location & Phone

Orthopedic Office Locations:

North Location 1:
2446 Research Pkwy, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Phone: (719) 623-1050
Fax: (719) 623-1051

North Location 2:
2430 Research Pkwy, Suite 205
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Phone: (719) 623-1050
Fax: (719) 623-1051

South Location:
1263 Lake Plaza Drive, Suites 210 B
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Phone: (719) 623-1050
Fax: (719) 623-1051

Physical Therapy North:
2430 Research Pkwy, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Phone: (719) 623-1795
Fax: (719) 623-1053

Physical Therapy South:
1263 Lake Plaza Drive, Suites 210 A
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Phone: (719) 623-1795
Fax: (719) 623-1053

Patient Education

Patient Education

Everything you need to know about your orthopedic condition, from preventing reinjury to avoiding risk factors can be found in our convenient online patient education library.

LEARN MORE

From the Doctor's Desk

Back Injuries Common in Young Athletes

LEARN MORE

Skip to content