Chinese-American patient undergoes robot-assisted endoscopic spine surgery in Foshan

A 74-year-old Chinese-American man underwent combined robot-assisted and endoscopic lumbar surgery at Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The March 14, 2025 account describes his assessment, decompression and early recovery before returning home.

Persistent back and leg pain prompted travel

Mr Li had suffered back and leg pain for years, with several attempts at conservative treatment providing inadequate relief. Other spine specialists had recommended open surgery, but he was concerned about its effects given his age and physical condition.

He came from the United States to Foshan in early February. Examinations identified grade I slippage of the fourth lumbar vertebra and a disc herniation at L5/S1. After discussion, the team selected robotic assistance combined with unilateral biportal endoscopy, or UBE.

Endoscopic decompression and robot-guided screws

During surgery, the team used the two-channel endoscope to decompress the same-side canal at L4/5 and L5/S1. Because narrowing was particularly severe at L4/5, they also decompressed the central canal, opposite side and lateral recess at that level.

The surgeons then operated the orthopedic robot to place pedicle screws in the planned positions.

UBE uses separate viewing and working channels. The hospital described how this permits flexible instrument movement and visualization of the decompression. Its account of the combined approach described four small incisions of about one centimetre, with less muscle dissection through anatomical spaces.

Walking on the second postoperative day

Mr Li was able to get out of bed and move around on the second day after surgery. His back and leg pain had significantly eased.

A repeat lumbar CT showed adequate decompression of the previously narrowed canal. He later left hospital and returned home, giving the spine team a handwritten thank-you letter before departure.

The hospital reported having performed more than one hundred robot-assisted spine operations and about one thousand minimally invasive endoscopic procedures over the preceding year or more.