An Inside Look at Robotic Spine Surgery

The primary goal of spine surgery has always been to help the patient realize a successful and sustainable outcome with minimal complications. However, in the last fifteen to twenty years when technology in the medical field has taken off, robotic spine surgery has allowed for more specific goals and objectives with greater efficacy.

Some of the most goals behind robotic spine surgery include: allowing the patient to return to as normal a life as possible after surgery; to get them to that point as quickly as possible; and to minimize the amount of trauma done to the body during the surgery. If you think you might be a good candidate for robotic spine surgery, then read on to learn more.

Advantages of Robotic Spine Surgery

As a form of minimally invasive surgery (or MIS,) robotic spine surgery has many benefits. There is improved safety when using a robot guided by the CT or MRI scans of the patient. The robot knows where to, and where not to, go. This is true for both simple and complex surgeries so accuracy rates have risen dramatically when it comes to MIS spine surgeries, resulting in fewer instances of patients having to have their spinal surgery re-done within a few years.

Also, there is a minimized use of radiation, as the CT or MRI scans only have to be done once prior to the surgery, instead of having to have the patient under constant radiation in the operating room to see where the instruments are in the spine as most robotic devices are also equipped with cameras.

For more insight regarding the advantages of robotic spine surgery, see the video below of Mazor's Spine Assist technology:

 

Applications for Robotic Spinal Surgery

There are many types of spinal problems that robotic spinal surgery can be used for, including: degenerative spinal conditions, spine tumors, spinal deformities, and more. If there is a slipped disc or instability in an area of the back, the robotic spine surgeon may perform a fusion of two or more vertebrae. Before robotic spine surgery, this would include an incision to open up the back long enough to expose all vertebrae involved in the fusion.

Now, it can all be done with the robotic device using MIS. Because of this, the recovery time for this type of surgery has drastically reduced and patients are getting on with their lives faster than ever.

A study done recently looked at over 600 surgeries where nearly half were considered MIS. Over 3,200 implants were placed during these surgeries and the overall accuracy rating was over 98%. The use of robotic spine surgery compared to open surgery on the spine has led one study to determine that implant accuracy has improved by at least 70%, the radiation that patients get with each surgery has been reduced by over 50% and the amount of time that each patient stays in the hospital after surgery has been reduced by over 25%.

There are many types and designs of robotic spine surgery devices and each one is proprietary to the manufacturer and the surgeon that uses each one will need training on how to use them. Chances are that a spine surgeon will have a preferred robotic spine surgery unit that he prefers to use so that he or she is comfortable with it every time in the operating room.

3 Vital Internet Marketing Platforms for Plastic Surgeons

If you are a plastic surgeon, there is no greater tool you can utilize than the internet. Search engines, social media sites, local directories, and surgery websites all offer opportunities to connect with new patients and cultivate a powerful web presence. Moreover, plastic surgeons that build a stellar online reputation are more like to convert web leads into quality patients.

We took the time to define three of the best Internet marketing platforms that can help plastic surgeons establish a strong online presence.

The search results are one of the most important Internet marketing channels
for plastic surgeons and related medical professionals.

Search Marketing (SEO + PPC Advertising)

Search Marketing is one of the most important aspects of Internet marketing, but it could also be very confusing. Search marketing makes use of both organic SEO and PPC (Pay per click) advertising to help position a plastic surgery practice in the search results for targeted keywords.

While it's possible for plastic surgeons to try both SEO and PPC independently, many choose to outsource these services to a proficient SEO or Internet marketing company that specializes in SEO for surgery practices.

If you hire an Internet marketing company for plastic surgery search marketing, like Optimized Surgeons, you will get strategies that is built entirely around your geographical area. They will also send you reports of the progress your site is making in terms of the page rank. Being in the number one page of Yahoo, Bing and Google on your target keywords will help you immensely in gathering patient leads.

Social Media Marketing

You already know that having a strong social media presence is both indispensable and valuable in this era. Meals are being instagrammed and everyone’s thoughts are being expressed in just 140 characters. The whole world revolves around big social media networks.

Although the use of social media wont be the same with your firm versus your personal accounts, you can use your business Twitter account for keeping up with your current or potential patients, and you can inform them with updates within your business. For Instagram or Facebook accounts, you can use it in promoting and displaying before and after pics of your patients’ enhancements - all under the patient’s consent, of course.

Some strategies and ideas for your social media accounts:

• Daily updates on Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Facebook
• Weekly blog publishing
• Daily Instagram photos of your office activity
• A YouTube channel where you can discuss your surgical procedures or educate patients
• Social contests
• Advertising on social networking platforms

Content Marketing

Just imagine how your potential client would feel comfortable once they are directed to your official website. You can provide all the information they would want to know on the procedures they are interested in. It will also give you a more qualified venue for answering inquiries and desires of the patient.

This is the number one arena where your potential client will feel connected with their surgeon. We guarantee you, your website visitors will surely pick up their phones and call your office for a quotation on any of your offered services. They are already looking into your website which means they are absolutely interested. This content marketing can also impact plastic surgeon SEO strategies to bring more valuable content to the site.

It is not rocket science but apparently, a lot of plastic surgeons do not make the time to add content on their websites. It is important that your blog or website has consistent postings because this will already serve as an answer to your patients’ questions.

The content you post on your website can be shared and published into your social media accounts. Those that will click the link to your article will help in giving your website a boost on the keyword-relevancy, authority and credibility! Utilizing all of these tools will definitely get you a good social media presence and more patient leads!