Cav. Dr. med. (I) Alessandro Rustia durfte am 28. Juni 2023 auf der internationalen Konferenz für Ultraschall der Ultrasonics 2023 in Lissabon einen Vortrag zu folgendem Thema „Technik der minimalinvasiven Wirbelsäulenansätze mit Ultraschall“ präsentieren. Er gehört zu den Pionieren und führenden Experten auf diesem Gebiet.
Abstract
Ten Years of Surgical Approach Optimization in Spinal Surgery Using an Ultrasonic Bone Drill
Cav. Dr. med. (I) Alessandro Rustia
Ultrasound bone scalpel has been used in surgery for over two decades, with increasing use in the past decade.
The technique offers several advantages, including reduced surgical time, minimally invasive approaches, reduced blood loss, smaller surgical incisions, and a lower risk of complications, such as nerve damage. Additionally, the technology allows for the preservation of autologous bone, which can be used for bone fusion between vertebral segments with the patient's own bone instead of being lost in the cooling and washing liquid of the normal bone drill.
In this Lecture, the author discusses the optimization of minimally invasive microsurgical techniques using an ultrasonic bone drill in spine surgery. This technique has been used successfully for creating a bone window in various approaches, including simple lumbar disc herniation, and more complex surgery as anterior vertebral body resection, and posterior spinal laminotomies. The use of ultrasonic bone scalpel reduces surgical time by approximately 50% compared to traditional electric or pneumatic drills. The author emphasizes the importance of optimizing this technique to reduce complications such as cerebrospinal fluid fistulas and sensory-motor damage.
However, it is important to note that the manual technique of using this instrument is quite different from the traditional bone drill used in neurosurgery and spinal surgery. Therefore, an adequate learning curve must be acquired before utilizing it in clinical practice in specialized centers dedicated to this technique.
Overall, the use of ultrasonic bone scalpel in spine surgery presents numerous advantages, but proper training and education are crucial for achieving optimal results.