New equipment opens door to same-day discharge spinal surgery at St Vincent’s

Above: L to R: Dr Fahmi Jalil, Dr Terence Tan and Dr Paul Smith with the AIRO scanner

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne has become the first public hospital in Victoria to introduce a new suite of equipment that allows surgeons to conduct same-day discharge spinal surgery. 

The new surgical system includes a spinal endoscopic tower, an intraoperative CT scanner and a camera system capable of creating tailored 3D images of parts of the body while operating. 

The spinal endoscopic tower enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures through a small incision using a high-definition camera that provides clear, magnified views of the spine. This precise visualisation allows surgeons to target specific areas while minimising disruption to surrounding tissue and muscle. 

As a result, patients experience less postoperative pain, faster recovery times, and reduced risk of complications compared to traditional open surgery. 

“There is less pressure on the patient’s body and a lot less pain after surgery which helps with faster recovery,” said Dr Paul Smith, Director of Neurosurgery at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. 

The new navigation tower will initially be used to assist in minimally invasive spinal procedures for patients with conditions such as herniated discs, spinal nerve compression and sciatica. 

In the past, patients undergoing spinal surgery would typically stay in hospital overnight or a few days, but this novel equipment allows them to be discharged on the same day, in appropriate cases. 

“Being able to get patients home sooner has huge benefits, including less stress on the patient and less stress on the system by freeing up beds sooner so more surgeries can be performed,” said Mr Smith. 

Combined strengths

Above: The AIRO intraoperative scanner

The new equipment suite also includes the 7D Surgical Navigation System and the AIRO intraoperative CT scanner, which together provide a unique level of precision and flexibility in spinal surgery.  

The 7D system uses advanced optical and machine-vision technology to offer real-time, high-definition, 3D imaging that enhances surgical navigation with remarkable precision, while the AIRO scanner enables intraoperative imaging without need to reposition a patient.

“With the AIRO, we now have access to full CT imaging right in the operating room that provides significantly higher quality images. This allows us to confirm optimal placement of screws and other instrumentation during the procedure itself, reducing the need for additional corrective surgeries and improving overall patient outcomes,” said Dr Smith.

The new scanner has also provided an exciting opportunity at SVHM to perform AIRO-assisted deep brain stimulation, a procedure commonly used in the treatment of Parkinson’s and epilepsy. 

St Vincent’s is the only public hospital in Victoria equipped with both the 7D Surgical Navigation System and the AIRO intraoperative CT scanner.

“By combining the 7D system’s 3D imaging capabilities with the mobility of the AIRO scanner, we can seamlessly switch between different types of spinal surgeries, including highly complex instrumented procedures, across multiple operating theatres,” said Dr Smith.

“This dual-system setup significantly boosts our surgical throughput, allowing more patients to access advanced spinal surgery without delays.” 

The new suite of surgical equipment was introduced at St Vincent’s in September and has opened up surgical opportunities for the public hospital’s patients that have previously only been available to patients in the private system.

Dr Fahmi Jalil and Dr Terence Tan, both lead endoscopic spine surgeons, performed the first endoscopic spine surgeries at SVHM using the new equipment.

“This new suite of spinal surgical equipment is next level and opens the doors to versatility and more equitable healthcare. We can now offer all patients this top-level care and can be doing three different instrumented spinal surgeries in three different theatres simultaneously. We wouldn’t have been able to do that a few months ago,” said Dr Smith. 

Back in the game

Grace Sullivan was the first patient to have same-day discharge spinal endoscopic surgery at St Vincent’s using the new equipment.

For almost eight months Grace had been living in daily pain after rupturing discs in her back when she was thrown from a horse while working on a cattle station.

“I wasn’t able to drive or work and struggled to walk without regular steroid injections,” said Grace.

“When I woke up after surgery, I could feel the difference straight away. Previously I could barely lift my leg 30cm off the ground and now I am able to move so much more freely and am pain-free. The change has been remarkable.”

Above: Grace Sullivan