HACKENSACK, N.J., Oct. 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hackensack University Medical Center is pleased to announce that the state-of-the-art guidance system for spine surgery, Mazor Robotics Renaissance®, arrived for installation in the medical center's main operating room. HackensackUMC will be the first hospital in New Jersey to offer Mazor Robotics Renaissance Spine Surgery.

"HackensackUMC remains committed to embracing new technology and innovation to better care for our patients," said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer, Hackensack University Health Network. "Our medical center offers a world-class team of physicians who collaborate across a wide spectrum of specialties. Both our neurosurgery and orthopaedic teams will have the opportunity to use Mazor Robotics Renaissance to improve upon the award-winning surgical care that we provide. Both departments are able to share best practices to offer the best treatment plan for addressing back pain in patients."

Mazor Robotics technology has been clinically validated to ensure 1.5mm accuracy for increased patient safety as compared to freehand spine surgery. Before entering the operating room, surgeons use Renaissance to pre-plan the optimal surgery in a CT-based 3-D simulation of the patient's spine. During surgery, Renaissance guides the surgeon's hand and tools to the precise pre-planned location. In a recent multicenter study published in Spine journal, investigators stated that Mazor Robotics technology "offers enhanced performance in spinal surgery when compared to freehand surgeries, by increasing placement accuracy and reducing neurologic risks."¹ It also may reduce the use of fluoroscopy in minimally-invasive procedures.²

Patrick A. Roth, M.D., chairman of Neurosurgery at HackensackUMC added, "Spinal surgery should always be viewed as a last option, as there are always risks and complications involved in any type of surgery. However, our patients can rest assured knowing that if the need arises for surgery, HackensackUMC provides a minimally-invasive procedure, using the most-advanced technology available."

Minimally-invasive procedures can mean less pain, smaller incisions, shorter hospitalizations and faster recovery for patients. Smaller incisions usually pose a challenge to surgeons due to the lack of direct line-of-vision, and can require many intraoperative X-rays to compensate for this. Renaissance Guidance System helps to overcome these challenges, providing patients with the best possible clinical results, and with less use of fluoroscopy.

"To be the first hospital in New Jersey offering Mazor Robotics Renaissance Spine Surgery is truly a testament to HackensackUMC's commitment to remaining at the forefront in utilizing technology for the benefit of our patients in New Jersey and beyond," said Michael A. Kelly, M.D., chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at HackensackUMC.

For more information about Mazor Robotics Spine Surgery with Renaissance visit www.MazorRobotics.com.

¹Devito DP, Kaplan L, Dietl R, et al. Clinical acceptance and accuracy assessment of spinal implants guided with SpineAssist surgical robot: retrospective study. Spine. 2010;35(24):2109-2115.
²Kantelhardt SR, Martinez R, Baerwinkel S, Burger R, Giese A, Rohde V. Perioperative course and accuracy of screw positioning in conventional, open robotic-guided and percutaneous robotic-guided, pedicle screw placement. Eur Spine J. 2011;20(6):860-868.

About Hackensack University Medical Center

HackensackUMC, a nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. Founded in 1888 as the county's first hospital, it is the flagship hospital of Hackensack University Health Network, one of the largest health networks in the state comprised of 1,717 beds, more than 10,000 employees and 3,300 credentialed physicians. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Report's 2015-16 Best Hospital rankings - maintaining its place atop the NJ rankings since the rating system was introduced. HackensackUMC is one of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals™ for nine years in a row, and received the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 13 years in a row. The medical center has also been named a Leapfrog Top Hospital, is one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country according to Practice Greenhealth, and received 23 Gold Seals of Approval™ by the Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence; receiving its fifth consecutive designation in 2014. HackensackUMC has created an entire campus of award-winning care, including: the John Theurer Cancer Center; the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women's and Children's Pavilion, which houses the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital Children's Hospital and Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital, which was designed with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center and listed on the Green Guide's list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. HackensackUMC is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls and is Official Medical Services Provider to The Barclays PGA Golf Tournament. It remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.   

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