A middle-aged woman was wheeled into the operating room.

She was about to undergo robotic-assistted sacral nerve stimulator implantation surgery.

Patient: Over 30 years old, female

Patient condition: Overactive bladder

Surgical unit: Department of Urology,The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University

Surgical procedure: Robot-assisted sacral nerve stimulator implantation

Sacral neuromodulation is a minimally invasive therapy that involves implanting electrodes to deliver mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves, thereby regulating the function of the bladder, bowel, and pelvic organs. The procedure is performed in two stages: the first stage involves the implantation of temporary electrodes to evaluate the therapeutic effect; the second stage involves the permanent implantation of the stimulator. Indications for this treatment include urinary disorders (such as urgency urinary incontinence and non-obstructive urinary retention) as well as bowel dysfunctions (such as neurogenic bowel, refractory constipation, and fecal incontinence).

The patient is a mother with an adorable child. Several years ago, she was unfortunately diagnosed with a malignant tumor. After years of battling the disease, the emotional bond with her child, combined with the physical pain and exhausting treatments, left her both physically and mentally drained. The onset of overactive bladder made her already fragile state even more anxious and distressed.

The fear of the future is more terrifying than the pain itself.

A few days ago, during the preoperative consultation, the patient expressed that cancer treatment had severely impacted her mental and physical health. She frequently felt anxious and was deeply fearful of undergoing surgery. She worried that if the procedure didn’t go smoothly and required repeated punctures, it would not only intensify her inner fear but also leave visible needle marks on her skin—something she found particularly distressing. She sincerely hoped the doctors could minimize both the surgical risks and her suffering.

Bringing Warmth to Precision Medicine

Taking the patient's individual condition into full consideration, the urology team at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University formulated a tailored treatment plan: “3D Image-Guided + Robotic-Assisted Sacral Nerve Stimulator Implantation.”

3D Imaging Acquisition

During the procedure, Perlove Medical’s 3D C-arm was used for rotational scanning to acquire detailed 3D images of the sacral region.

According to the Chinese Expert Consensus on the Clinical Application of Sacral Neuromodulation (2024 Third Edition), it is recommended to routinely perform anteroposterior and lateral X-rays of the sacrococcygeal region, and sacral CT 3D reconstruction if necessary. This helps clarify the shape and condition of the sacrum, reduces the difficulty of puncture, and minimizes X-ray exposure.

Navigate Surgical Path Planning

The 3D C-arm images were transferred to the orthopedic surgical robot workstation.
With the aid of high-resolution 3D imaging, the sacral anatomical structure, including the sacral foramina's position and orientation, was clearly visualized.
The surgeon then used the robotic workstation interface to plan the precise puncture trajectory.

Guided Puncture

With robotic arm assistance, the surgeon rapidly identified the surface puncture point. Following the trajectory along the sacral foramen and sacral nerve, the electrode was successfully inserted in a single attempt.

The procedure was completed in under one hour. After this procedure, the woman was finally relieved.

3D imaging combined with precise robotic navigation enabled optimal electrode placement, reduced puncture attempts to just one, shortened the surgery duration, and lowered surgical risk. The patient’s anxiety was soothed through these specific, measurable improvements, which is a daily demonstration of how the Department of Urology at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University truly puts precision into practice.

Reducing pain and increasing peace of mind is the true value of precision diagnosis and treatment.