The Evolution and Application of Robotic Systems in Neurotologic Surgery: A Scoping Review

To map the technological evolution and clinical feasibility of robotic systems in neurotologic and lateral skull-base surgery, identifying bottlenecks limiting widespread clinical translation. DATABASES REVIEWED: A systematic search was conducted across Embase, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. REVIEW

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

No actionable change yet — robotic neurotologic surgery remains investigational; audiologists and surgeons should monitor the field but no current clinical pathway changes are warranted.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

As robotic-assisted surgery moves closer to routine use in otology and skull-base procedures, audiologists involved in surgical co-management need to understand both the potential benefits and the current adoption barriers.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Scoping review in Otology & Neurotology maps robotic system development across neurotologic and skull-base surgery.
02Robots show technological feasibility for procedures such as cochlear implantation and lateral skull-base tumor removal.
03Key adoption barriers include cost, regulatory hurdles, limited haptic feedback, and steep learning curves.
04No large RCTs or high-quality comparative trials in this space yet identified.
05Review is descriptive/mapping in nature; does not pool outcomes or perform meta-analysis.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Robotic systems are clinically feasible for neurotologic and lateral skull-base surgery.

studypartially supported

Barriers to widespread adoption of robotic neurotologic surgery exist and have been identified.

studysupported

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42929200
DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000005044.
Journal: Otology & Neurotology
Publication type: review
Evidence level: 2a
Population: Published studies on robotic-assisted neurotologic and lateral skull-base surgical procedures
Intervention: Robotic surgical systems applied to neurotologic and lateral skull-base surgery

Primary outcomes

Technological evolution of robotic systems in neurotology; Clinical feasibility of robotic-assisted neurotologic procedures; Barriers to widespread clinical adoption

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