Robotic microsurgery for pediatric peripheral nerve surgery

Journal of Robotic Surgery, vol. 18, pp. 388

Abstract

The technology of microsurgical robotic systems has shown potential benefit during the last decade for a variety of microsurgical procedures, such as vascular anastomoses, lymphatic anastomoses or nerve coaptation. At the same time, peripheral nerve surgery has produced ever more sophisticated nerve transfers in which the smallest nerve structures are connected to each other. Following obstetric brachial plexus injuries, nerve reconstruction surgery is often required in the first few years of life in order to improve the function of the affected arm, including nerve transfers to denervated muscles, which enable reinnervation of target muscles. In pediatric patients, these donor-nerve structures are even smaller than in adults, which further increases the demands to the microsurgeon. In this publication, we show the possible applications, capabilities and limitations of a dedicated microsurgical robotic system for nerve transfers in pediatric patients.

Authors 4

1. Benedikt Schäfer corresponding Aachen Department of Plastic Surgery Hand Surgery—Burn Center Division for Plexus Surgery

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery-Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. bschaefer@ukaachen.de

   Division for Plexus Surgery, Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery-Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. bschaefer@ukaachen.de

   Division for Plexus Surgery, Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery–Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

2. Gerrit Freund Aachen Department of Plastic Surgery Hand Surgery—Burn Center

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery-Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

   Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery–Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

3. Jörg Bahm Aachen Department of Plastic Surgery Hand Surgery—Burn Center Division for Plexus Surgery

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery-Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

   Division for Plexus Surgery, Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery-Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

   Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery–Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

4. Justus P. Beier Aachen Department of Plastic Surgery Hand Surgery—Burn Center

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery-Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

   Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery–Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany