Allegheny Health Network Brings Next Generation of Robotic Spine Surgery to Western Pennsylvania

AHN is the first health network in the region to use Medtronic's Stealth AXiS™ Surgical System at Allegheny General Hospital and AHN Wexford

PITTSBURGH - Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is advancing the future of spine surgery, becoming the first health system in Western Pennsylvania to offer patients access to the Medtronic Stealth AXiS™ Surgical Systems.

The innovative, next generation robotic surgical system is now being used by spine surgeons at AHN's Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) and AHN Wexford.

Stealth AXiS™ integrates AI-driven surgical planning, navigation, real-time anatomical tracking and robotic-assisted execution into a connected platform. The system is designed to help surgeons translate detailed preoperative plans into precise intraoperative execution while supporting both minimally invasive and open spine procedures. 

For AHN orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Ryan Sauber, the technology represents the culmination of more than a decade of experience with robotic-assisted spine surgery.

"We've been working with robotics and spine surgery since I was a resident, and this is really the culmination of all of that work," said Dr. Sauber. "The technology has continued to evolve, and we're now able to use robotics to plan these surgeries much more precisely, perform them efficiently and, when appropriate, through smaller, minimally invasive approaches. It can completely change what the experience of spine surgery looks like for a patient."

Traditionally, spinal fusion surgery could require a significant incision, extensive muscle dissection, a hospital stay of several days, and a prolonged period of recovery. Advances in minimally invasive techniques, combined with robotic planning and navigation, have changed that trajectory.

Stealth AXiS™ can help surgeons plan screw placement and surgical trajectories before entering the operating room, then use navigation and robotic guidance to help execute that plan. The system also introduces enhanced capabilities for precisely cutting bone, which Dr. Sauber says can significantly improve surgical efficiency.

"Being able to cut bone accurately, safely and quickly has easily taken an hour off my surgical time in some of these cases," Dr. Sauber said. "That efficiency is important because it is one of the things that can help make outpatient spine surgery possible."

The new technology has even allowed some patients to walk within hours of surgery and return home the same day.

For David Rendulic, 62, of Mt. Lebanon, the technology was part of an experience that was very different from the spine surgery recovery he had feared.

Rendulic spent years managing degenerative disc disease, a spinal condition known as spondylolisthesis, and recurring sciatica. Before considering fusion surgery, he had tried a range of nonsurgical treatments, including physical therapy, injections, ablation, steroids, core strengthening and weight loss.

Ultimately, Dr. Sauber determined that Rendulic needed a single-level fusion.

Rendulic, who had worked in orthopedic and neurological medical-device sales and remains active as a Mt. Lebanon fire inspector and volunteer firefighter, was concerned about what spine surgery would mean for his mobility.

Instead, his recovery was remarkably quick.

"I was kind of terrified because I've seen how the sausage is made," Rendulic said. "But I was on my feet surprisingly quick."

He walked around the hospital unit within hours of surgery. Within several weeks, he was walking three to five miles a day.

Rendulic said he had only a few small incisions rather than a large midline incision and was able to stop taking pain medication within a week.

"I have no pain and no sciatica down my legs," he said.

Rendulic also brought a unique perspective to his experience. Having worked in the medical-device industry, he understood the role technology can play in surgery.

"Not having to do everything manually, I think that really saves time," he said.

AHN's investment in two $1.6 million Stealth AXiS™ Surgical Systems underscores the health system's commitment to advancing spine care across both its orthopedic and neurosurgical programs.

The new system builds on Medtronic's Mazor robotics capabilities, AHN's previous-generation robotic platform.

"AHN has a long history of investing in technologies that can fundamentally change the way we care for patients," said Donald Whiting, MD, system chair of AHN's Neuroscience Institute and Department of Neurosurgery. "Bringing this next generation of robotic spine technology to two AHN hospitals reflects our commitment to giving our orthopedic and neurosurgical spine teams the tools they need to provide increasingly precise, efficient and minimally invasive care. It's also about creating an environment where surgeons can continue to innovate, learn from one another and advance spine care for patients throughout the region."

For Dr. Sauber, that continued evolution is one of the most exciting aspects of the technology.

"We're getting in on the ground floor with this brand-new robot," he said. "As the technology evolves, AHN has the opportunity to be at the forefront of helping bring new techniques and technologies to our patients."

For patients like Rendulic, however, the most meaningful measure of innovation is simpler: getting back to life.

"I'm back to the gym. I walk a lot. I cycle a lot." Rendulic said. "The surgery was very, very smooth, very efficient. It really freed me up a lot."

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About Allegheny Health Network:  
Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org) is an integrated health care delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The network is composed of 16 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, an employed physician organization, home- and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. AHN provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, cardiovascular disease, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women's health, diabetes and more. AHN employs approximately 27,000 people, has 3,000 physicians on its medical staff, and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  

Media Contact:

Sarafina Brooks James
Allegheny Health Network
412-609-2902
[email protected]