The Department of Plastic Surgery of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer), has successfully performed robotic-assisted thoracoscopic phrenic nerve harvest on two patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury.

According to a press note, both patients underwent robotic-assisted thoracoscopic phrenic nerve harvest, followed by phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve to restore elbow flexion. The robotic platform enabled precise intrathoracic dissection and minimally invasive harvest of the donor nerve, offering enhanced surgical precision while minimising tissue trauma.

The surgeries were performed by a team of plastic surgeons led by Dinesh Kumar S. This procedure represents the first robotic-assisted nerve reconstruction for brachial plexus injury in South India, according to Jipmer.

According to Vir Singh Negi, Director, Jipmer, this milestone reflects the institute’s sustained commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies for improving patient care. He noted that Jipmer’s multi-disciplinary robotic surgery programme, launched in 2017, has steadily expanded over the years and has emerged as one of the institute’s flagship advanced surgical services.

The robotic surgery programme has enabled the successful performance of a wide spectrum of complex procedures, particularly for cancer patients, while providing the well-established benefits of minimally invasive surgery, including reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and early return to normal activities, he said.