Comparative Efficacy and Safety of 5G-Enabled Remote Robotic Assistance Versus Those of Conventional Robot-Assisted Techniques in Pedicle Screw Placement

Objective. The 5G remote robotic-assisted (RA) technique combines high-speed communication technology with robotic systems to enable remote treatment, providing convenience for patients. Randomized controlled comparative studies on 5G remote and conventional RA methods for pedicle screw placement are currently lacking. Therefore, this single-center prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of 5G remote RA pedicle screw placement in comparison with those of the conventional RA method. Method. This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial. 120 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the 5G remote (n=60) and conventional (n=60) RA groups. Postoperative follow-up result parameters were assessed by using the Gertzbein–Robbins standard to evaluate pedicle screw position. Primary parameters included screw accuracy and proximal facet joint violations (FJVs). Secondary parameters included vertebral height, local Cobb’s angle, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications. Results. In terms of screw placement accuracy, the conventional RA group had 337 clinically acceptable screws (98.0%), whereas the remote RA group had 336 clinically acceptable screws (98.2%). No significant differences were found between the two groups ( P >0.05). Proximal FJVs also showed similar results, with 42 (12.2%) screws violating the proximal facet joints in the conventional RA group and 38 (11.1%) in the remote RA group. The intergroup difference was not statistically significant ( P >0.05). Both groups showed comparable vertebral height and Cobb’s angle, with no significant differences ( P >0.05). The clinical outcomes including VAS scores, ODI scores, procedura time, bleeding, and postoperative complications (nerve injury, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, implant failure, and incision complications) were comparable.And there were no significant intergroup differences ( P >0.05). Conclusions. The 5G remote and conventional RA technologies demonstrated comparable safety and efficacy in pedicle screw placement. Remote robotic technology provides a feasible and safe method for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures, representing a promising surgical technique for clinical practice.