One Indonesian doctor with a license for robotic spine surgery is Dr. Asrafi Rizki Gatam, Sp.OT (K) Spine. He is a specialist in spinal medicine who completed his subspecialty medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, followed by international education in countries such as Singapore, Korea and Germany. Dr. Rizki Gatam specializes in the treatment of pinched nerves (hernia nukleus pulposus, or HNP) and mild to complex scoliosis surgeries.

What is a pinched nerve or HNP? Pinched nerves can have various causes, but one of the most common is compression by the intervertebral disc. The areas most often affected are the neck and lower back.

The symptoms of pinched nerves are distinctive, including pain that radiates from the neck to the arm, numbness, tingling, burning sensations of a continuous nature that persist for an extended period. If the pinched nerve is in the lower back, it can cause pain that radiates to the thigh or even the toes, numbness, tingling, difficulty walking and sometimes urinary incontinence.

Doctors typically diagnose the source of compression through a spinal MRI, and if the condition is severe, surgery may be offered to relieve the pinched nerve, either through endoscopic or robotic methods.

"Robotic spine navigation technology is usually recommended for pinched nerves that require implant placement or artificial disc support. For scoliosis surgery, this navigation robot helps me accurately place implants or screws up to 99 percent, avoiding bleeding and paralysis risks, making scoliosis surgery safer," explains Dr. Rizki Gatam.

Dr. Rizki Gatam, who enjoys scuba diving and kickboxing, emphasizes that not all pinched nerve surgeries require robotic technology. Mild cases can be treated with minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, involving a small incision and the insertion of a straw-sized tube to access the compressed nerve. This method, known as Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy (PELD) or Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery (BESS), is effective for mild to moderate pinched nerves without the need for artificial disc implants. It's a safe procedure, and even the oldest patient he operated on was 92 years old and resumed light activities like walking just a day or two after surgery.

Profile of Dr. Asrafi Rizki Gatam, Sp.OT (K) Spine: Dr. Rizki Gatam is a specialist orthopedic consultant in spinal medicine practicing at Eka Hospital BSD, RS Premier Bintaro and RSUP Fatmawati. He is highly active in writing national and international scientific journals related to spinal medicine to introduce medical technology advancements in Indonesia in the field of spine surgery.

He is an active speaker and instructor in various seminars and workshops, both nationally and internationally, and has even won awards at the international level.

Education of Dr. Asrafi Rizki Gatam, Sp.OT (K) Spine:

• Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI) - Specialist Doctor in Orthopedic Traumatology

• Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Hospital – Spine Division Posting

• University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hongkong – Spine Fellowship

• St. Anna Hospital, Herne, Germany – Intensive and Master Class training on Endoscopic Spine Surgery

• Wooridul Hospital, Pohang Seoul, South Korea – Didactic Course on Endoscopic Spine Procedures

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