Pediatric orthopedic surgeons at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach, Dr. Emory Chang and Dr. Peter Hahn, are two of only three pediatric orthopedic surgeons in the country that are trained on the ExcelsiusGPS®, a robotic navigation technology.

The ExcelsiusGPS system creates a surgical plan based on a child’s unique anatomy, guiding the robotic arm to a specific region of the spine, similar to a planned pathway on GPS. The pediatric spine surgeon uses this pathway to accurately conduct spine surgery with the utmost precision.

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons who are trained to use the technology can now perform back and spine procedures that may result in faster recovery with less blood loss and less muscle damage. ExcelsiusGPS is designed to improve accuracy and optimize patient care by using robotics and navigation.

ExcelsiusGPS provides improved visualization of patient anatomy through the procedure to help optimize patient treatment. This revolutionary robotic navigation platform created by Globus Medical, Inc., is the world’s first technology to combine a rigid robotic arm and full navigation capabilities into one adaptable platform for accurate trajectory alignment in spine surgery.

Dr. Chang and Dr. Hahn are part of a team of specially trained pediatric orthopedic surgeons led by Dr. Torin Cunningham at the Orthopedic Center at Miller Children’s & Women’s. The Orthopedic Center cares for pediatric spine trauma, spinal deformity and musculoskeletal abnormalities, as well as acute and chronic orthopedic care for infants, children and adolescents with skeletal (bone) maturity.

Miller Children’s & Women’s also is one of the only area hospitals to have the EOS Imaging System, which uses two to three times less radiation than a standard X-ray to provide extremely detailed, high-quality images of patients in a standing position.

EOS can be used for children with hip, knee or spine conditions. Because of the lower dose of radiation, it is ideal for children who require multiple X-rays during the course of their treatment, such as patients with scoliosis and other spine disorders.

This combination of advanced imaging and surgical technology vastly enhances outcomes for pediatric patients requiring spine surgery, and is not available anywhere else in the state.