Onslow Memo­r­i­al Hos­pi­tal Adds Mazor X Stealth Robot­ic Guid­ance Sys­tem to Improve Patient Care

Onslow Memorial Hospital (OMH) today announced that it has added the Mazor X™ Stealth Robotic Guidance System, which offers a minimally invasive approach to spinal surgery. The Mazor X provides surgeons with 3D planning, guidance, and analytical tools that significantly enhance patient outcomes. Onslow Memorial Hospital is one of just four hospitals in North Carolina to provide this service.

“We are excited to bring this state-of-the-art technology to our community for back pain patients,” said OMH President and CEO, Dr. Penney Burlingame Deal, DHA, RN, FACHE. “With robotic-assisted procedures, we can anticipate less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and better results for our patients. Essentially, the Mazor X will allow us to provide even better care than we already do.”

The Mazor X delivers 3D imaging to the surgeon before, during, and after a procedure. Before surgery, the system analyzes scans of the patient to assist the surgeon in creating a preoperative plan. During surgery, the surgeon utilizes a robotic arm to guide surgical tools and implants to improve accuracy and provide an efficient and smooth surgery.

“The Mazor X is truly amazing, the precision is incomparable, and it’s going to make a drastic difference in patient care and recovery,” says Dr. Ashraf Guirgues, board-certified orthopedic surgeon. “I would have never sent home patients within 24-48 hours of surgery before, but now I can.” Dr. Guirgues is the director of the Carolinas Center for Spine Surgery and is the primary surgeon utilizing the Mazor X.

Patient benefits of the Mazor X include:

• Less trauma to the body, reducing pain and shortening recovery time;
• Increased accuracy, decreasing complications during and after surgery and cutting down on time spent in the hospital;
• Enhanced precision, better preserving healthy tissue and diminishing the need for future spinal surgeries;
• Reduced radiation exposure from imaging equipment, providing a safer environment for the surgeon and patient, compared to traditional spine surgeries.

The Mazor X is a third-generation surgical robot and eighth-generation navigation system that builds on years of experience. In collaboration with Medtronic™, creators of the Mazor X, the OMH surgical team is leveraging its knowledge and expertise to deliver enhanced care to patients across Eastern North Carolina. This new system will provide Onslow County with access to cutting-edge technology and offer patients the opportunity to experience spinal surgery in a completely new way.

To learn more about the Mazor X, visit onslow.org/services/surgical-services-spine-surgery

About Onslow Memorial: Onslow Memorial Hospital (OMH), originally founded in 1944, stands as a 162-bed acute care, community hospital located in coastal North Carolina, serving the city of Jacksonville and greater Onslow County. Onslow Memorial Hospital is nationally accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and an affiliate of UNC Health Care.