Innovative Combination Technique Advances Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Pictured: Dr. Michael Gallizzi of The Steadman Clinic
VAIL, Colo., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Steadman Clinic and Dr. Michael Gallizzi continue to strengthen their reputation as global leaders in advanced surgical technology. Since joining the clinic three years ago, Dr. Gallizzi has performed over 400 robotic spine surgeries and more than 600 endoscopic procedures, the majority of which have been completed during his tenure.
Beyond these remarkable figures, Dr. Gallizzi is at the forefront of innovation in minimally invasive spine surgery. He is among the first to successfully integrate robotic and endoscopic techniques within a single procedure—a groundbreaking approach that enhances surgical precision, accelerates recovery and delivers lasting benefits for patients.
Advancing Treatment for Young Athletes
One particularly promising application of this innovative method is the robotic-assisted endoscopic repair of adolescent pars fractures, a condition common among young athletes engaged in repetitive-motion sports like ski racing, football, volleyball, tennis, soccer and swimming.
“We’ve done a number of new procedures that are a combination of both robotic and endoscopic,” said Dr. Gallizzi. “Among the 400 robotic cases, we’re starting to do adolescent pars fracture repairs for young athletes and are having really good outcomes. Being able to do that procedure as a same-day, outpatient surgery makes it even more appealing to the patient and helpful in improving and lessening the recovery time.”
Historically, untreated pars fractures often led to spinal shifting and instability in adulthood. With this precise, outpatient procedure, young athletes experience shorter recovery times—typically three months of restricted movement—and significantly lower risks of long-term complications.
“Essentially, the typical treatment for that was to rest the athlete, usually at least three months of bracing, and hoped that it healed,” continued Dr. Gallizzi. “A lot of times it did heal, but those are the patients that often end up with shifting in their spine as they get older. So, when they hit their 30s, 40s and 50s, they start getting a lot of instability pain, because the pars is no longer connected together and it actually starts to slide. Using the combination of robotic navigation plus the endoscope when the fracture happens acutely, we are able to repair the fracture and mitigate those potential long-term issues.
“If we’re able to catch and diagnose these athletes early,” added Dr. Gallizzi, “we now have a very precise and durable operation that’s done in a truly minimally invasive fashion.”
The Future of Robotic-Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Dr. Gallizzi sees tremendous potential in combining robotic and endoscopic techniques, particularly for complex spinal procedures.
“The robotic arm is essentially a guide or a targeting tool, and sometimes to get into tough locations and difficult angles, the robot can help guide any tool,” explained Dr. Gallizzi. “Specifically, it can assist with the endoscope and be able to target the exact pathology we’re looking for.”
“It’s an emerging field in terms of combining the two technologies,” added Dr. Gallizzi. “I think on the industry side, it is now recognized that merging the two technologies is a positive and we look forward to utilizing this combination method with more regularity in the near future.”
By integrating robotic precision and endoscopic innovation, Dr. Gallizzi and The Steadman Clinic continue to push the boundaries of minimally invasive spine surgery, helping patients return to pain-free movement and active lifestyles faster than ever.
Attachment
- Pictured: Dr. Michael Gallizzi of The Steadman Clinic
CONTACT: Lynda Sampson The Steadman Clinic 970-479-1563 lsampson@sprivail.org
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