Abrazo West Campus surgeons have surpassed the 100 procedure milestone for spine surgery with Arizona’s first Loop-X robotic surgical imaging system.

According to an Abrazo press release, Loop-X is literally a circular “loop” that robotically moves around the patient during surgery for live, targeted 3D and 2D cone-beam computed tomography (CT) images and its high-tech Brainlab navigation software provides precision guidance for surgeons during complex surgery.

“The system works in sync with other devices in the operating room, moving with the procedure and on the surgeon’s command,” Abrazo West Campus spine surgeon Dr. Brian Vernon stated.

Abrazo West Campus, a 216-bed medical center, is located at 13677 W. McDowell Road in Goodyear. The campus became the first and only Arizona hospital to offer the new Loop-X last fall, and was among the first 10 hospitals in the U.S. with the system.

“It robotically aligns to the anatomy so patients do not have to be moved for CT imaging during surgery,” Vernon stated. “Independently moving imaging source and detector panels also help reduce the amount of radiation exposure.”

Loop-X can be used for spine surgery such as thoracic, lumbar fusion, posterior cervical, sacroiliac joint, joint fusion, lumbar interbody fusion or Scoliosis deformity correction procedures. Its cone-shaped CT scans can be manipulated to reduce radiation around surrounding tissue in the operative area, noted Dr. Vernon.

A typical candidate for back surgery using the Loop-X system would be someone who is living with severe back pain that has failed non-operative treatment and is seeking improved quality of life with less pain, added Abrazo West Campus spine surgeon Dr. Anubhav Jagadish.

The Loop-X system can also be used by neurosurgeons during brain tumor procedures.

“It is exciting to be the first hospital in Arizona with this advanced system and to be among the first 10 installations in the country,” Abrazo West Campus CEO Hans Driessnack stated. “We are continuing to invest in our hospital to offer advanced technology for high-acuity and complex surgical care for patients in the West Valley.”

The Loop-X robotic system moves around the patient and includes 2D and 3D CT imaging, Brainlab navigation software to guide a robotic arm for placing instruments and hardware during spine surgery.

(Photo provided by Abrazo West Campus)

The Loop-X robotic system moves around the patient and includes 2D and 3D CT imaging, Brainlab navigation software to guide a robotic arm for placing instruments and hardware during spine surgery.

(Photo provided by Abrazo West Campus)