Robot-assisted vs freehand pedicle screw fixation in spine surgery - a systematic review and a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and six retrospective comparative studies included a total of 750 patients (3625 pedicle screws). No significant differences were noted between RA and FH in pedicle screw accuracy (95.5% compared with 92.9%; odds ratio: 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 3.30; P=0.51), overall complication rate (1.33% compared with 3.45%; odds ratio: 0.46; 95% CI, 0.15 to 1.43; P=0.18) and radiation exposure time (weighted mean difference [WMD]:8.49; 95% CI, -15.43 to 32.40; P=0.49). While RA was associated with a longer operative time (WMD: 39.63; 95% CI, 5.27 to 73.99; P= 0.02), percutaneous or minimal robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation (M-RA) had a shorter radiation exposure time than FH (WMD: -33.10; 95% CI, -38.18 to -28.02; P=0.00) CONCLUSIONS: The current literature did not prove that RA supersedes FH, although several studies are more optimistic about this procedure. Future well-designed RCTs assessing RA and FH are needed to confirm and update the findings of this analysis.