San Ramon Hospital Performs Landmark Surgery

SAN RAMON, CA — A doctor at San Ramon Regional Medical Center performed the first endoscopic robotic-assisted lumbar fusion in California in August, the hospital announced in a news release.

Dr. Saqib Hasan performed the procedure, which combines endoscopic and robotic-guided technologies to allow the surgeon to operate through smaller incisions rather than larger surgical dissection. The first patient is now six months post-operation and is doing well, the hospital reports.

“Endoscopic techniques really represent a paradigm shift in spine surgery. By leveraging these technologies, surgeons can treat spinal problems in a truly minimally invasive way. By using advanced miniature cameras (endoscopes) and computer-based robotic arms to provide a more targeted and accurate approach, we can achieve similar results to more traditional open procedures with less pain and quicker recovery,” Dr. Hasan, who specializes in endoscopic spine surgery at San Ramon Regional Medical Center, said in a statement.

In early 2020, the hospital was the first hospital in the Bay Area to purchase the ExcelsuisGPS system to offer robotic-assisted spinal surgery, which was used for the first endoscopic robotic-assisted lumbar fusion.