Passias PG, Brown AE, Alas H, et al. - The retrospective review of a single-center spine surgery database was conducted to compare the economic outcomes of lumbar spine fusion between open, minimally invasive (MIS), and robot-assisted surgery patients. Researchers recruited a total of 360 propensity-matched patients (120 open, 120 MIS, 120 robotic). In the field of spine surgery, numerous advances have been made, nevertheless, there has been limited discussion of the impact these advances have on economic outcomes. When matched for levels fused, in comparison with minimally invasive and open spine surgery patients, robot-assisted surgery patients had significantly higher rates of complications and 30% higher costs of surgery. The projected costs per quality-adjusted life years at life expectancy were well below established acceptable thresholds, while 1-year economic outcomes were not optimal for robotic surgery cases. It was considered that the above findings may be reflective of an educational learning curve and emerging surgical technologies undergoing progressive refinement.