'Renaissance Man' robot guides successful spinal surgery

Jan Howell sits up straighter and walks with more confidence.

The Valentine woman said she no longer has pain shooting down her legs. The 81-year-old came to Kearney for spinal surgery in September.

“I walked out of that hospital. It felt like it took 20 years off my life. It really did,” Howell said. She said she was amused to learn her surgery was guided by the Mazor Renaissance Robotic System.

“I’m just starting to use my smartphone but the future is here for medicine,” she said. After having four screws placed in her back to repair what age has worn down, she wore a brace for two months and was then back to her normal activities of walking and gardening.

Jerry Marlatt of Kearney also had the same surgery performed by Dr. David Benavides, an orthopedic surgeon, and said he no longer has any pain.

“I used to own Marlatt Machine Shop before I retired. I lifted too many heavy things in my day,” he said.

His surgery took place in his lower back where eight screws and two rods were fused to his spine. He had his surgery in November and said he’s been doing water therapy to keep his muscles and back strong.

“I feel a whole lot better. No pain shooting down my legs, but I was surprised when the doctor said he would be using a robot to help during the surgery,” the 83-year-old Marlatt said.

For the last three years, Tim Alford, a physician’s assistant and administrative director of the Center for Spine and Orthopedicis at Kearney Regional Medical Center, has been positioning the department for surgeries such as Howell’s and Marlatt’s to include what he affectionately calls The Renaissance Man.

“Historically, major spine surgery had been a challenge for both the patient and the surgeon, but integration of the Mazor Renaissance Robot has decreased the length of operations and has contributed to better recovery for patients,” Alford said.

On March 7, Verleen Kuhlman went into surgery because of a degenerative disease. During surgery, she received 10 screws and several rods to repair her spine. Benavides and Alford were guided by the Renaissance robot and were able to insert the screws in less than 55 minutes.

“The total time during surgery was three hours and one minute operative time, and the robot shortened the case by at least an hour. I saw the patient midafternoon, and the next morning she was walking in the hall,” Alford said.

The robotic system is used most often for brain and spine procedures. So far, 34 surgeries have been performed at KRMC using the robot, Benavides said.

Mazor says the $1 million machine allows for faster recovery time for the patients, less blood loss, shorter operating time, and precision insertion of rods or screws if needed.

Benavides plans a surgery by creating a blueprint on his computer. He is able to identify anything tricky before the surgery through the use of the patient’s CT scans and a 3D view to sync the images of the patient’s body. This allows him to operate in the exact location.

The tools and implants are guided to the planned location with 1.5 mm accuracy.

“We never start a surgery without a blueprint. Once we have the scans of the patient’s anatomy, we use fluoroscopic images which are matched to the corresponding location where we are operating,” Benavides said. “I know exactly what my team and I are going to do before we step into the operating room.”

Benavides specializes in spinal surgery and is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He owns Central Nebraska Spinal Surgery Center PC in Kearney.