Comparative study of 1-year clinical and radiological outcomes using robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation and freehand technique in posterior lumbar interbody fusion: A prospective, randomized controlled trial

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of surgery using robot-assisted posterior interbody fusion with that using freehand posterior interbody fusion in patients with degenerative spinal disease. Methods: 78 participants with degenerative spinal disease were randomly allocated (1:1) to the minimally invasive (MIS), posterior lumbar interbody fusion (Robot-PLIF) or conventional, freehand, open-approach, posterior lumbar interbody fusion (Freehand-PLIF). Results: The baseline-adjusted scores on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) in both groups at 1 year after surgery were not different (P = 0.688). However, the decrease in disc height at the proximal adjacent segment was significantly less in the Robot-PLIF group than in the Freehand-PLIF group (P = 0.039). Conclusion: One-year surgical outcomes including Visual Analog Scale, ODI and Short Form-36 did not differ between the two groups. The disc height in the proximal adjacent segment was significantly less decreased in the Robot-PLIF group than in the Freehand-PLIF group.