The application of robotics in plastic and reconstructive surgery: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Robotic assisted surgery (RAS) has seen significant advancement in many surgical specialties, although the application of robotics in plastic and reconstructive surgery remains to be widely established. This systematic review aims to assess the role of RAS in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Methods: The review protocol was published and registered a priori as CRD42024507420. A comprehensive electronic search for relevant studies was performed in MEDLINE, Embase and Google scholar databases. Results: Overall, 132 studies were initially identified, of which, 44 studies satisfied the eligibility criteria with a cumulative total of 239 patients. RAS demonstrated a high degree of procedural success and anastomotic patency in microvascular procedures. There was no significant difference in periprocedural adverse events between robotic and manual procedures. Conclusion: RAS can be feasibly implemented in plastic and reconstructive surgery with a good efficacy and safety profile, particularly for microsurgical anastomosis and trans-oral surgery.