Surgeons Perform World's First-Ever Dual Robotic Surgery at Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital

The world's first-of-its-kind dual robotic surgery was performed on April 23 at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, announced  National President Ellen Hershkin of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA).

The revolutionary dual robotic surgery assisted in the repair of a severe spinal fracture suffered by Aharon Schwartz, 42, a factory worker in Jerusalem who was injured when a steel object pinned him to the ground, fracturing his leg in two places and breaking six of his spinal vertebrae.  The 3-hour surgery took place in the state-of-the-art $30M underground hybrid operating theater at Hadassah's Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower.

Dr. Meir Liebergall, Chairman of the Hadassah Medical Organization's (HMO) Orthopedic Department and head of HMO's Musculo-Skeletal Medicine Division, explained the pioneering surgery.  "Two robots, Siemens' Artis Zeego and the Mazor Robotics' Renaissance® Guidance System, were involved in the surgery.  Artis Zeego, overseen by Dr. Amal Khouri, Director of HMO's Orthopedic Hospitalization Center, provided real-time 3-dimensional imaging during the surgical procedure, which eliminated the need for pre-surgery CT scans and post-surgery X-rays. Renaissance® Guidance System, a screw placement system which allows spinal implant placement with maximum safety and accuracy, was controlled by HMO Sr. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Josh Schroeder. Renaissance communicated with Artis Zeego during the minimally-invasive surgery while Dr. Schroeder led the Hadassah orthopedic team in the insertion of eleven pedicle screws into the patient's spine with clinical exactitude."

Dr. Liebergall predicted that patient Schwartz will completely recover from the surgery and will be walking again very shortly.

Hershkin states, "Once again, HMO achieves another world-first – a dual robot-assisted spinal surgery, solidifying its reputation for world class medical innovation and treatment.  Our congratulations go to Dr. Liebergall and his brilliant surgical team for continuing Hadassah's mission of bringing ground-breaking medical care to the people of Israel."

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