Robotic Breakthrough in Riyadh: Redefining the Future of Brain Surgery

In a medical milestone that could reshape the future of neurosurgery, specialists at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh have successfully removed a deep-seated brain tumor using a fully robotic system—believed to be the first operation of its kind in the world.

The patient, a 68-year-old man suffering from persistent headaches and loss of concentration, underwent the groundbreaking procedure, which relied entirely on robotic precision rather than traditional hand-guided instruments. Using robotic arms controlled by a 3D optical navigation system, surgeons were able to map and remove a 4.5-centimeter tumor in just one hour.

Remarkably, the patient - awake and stable throughout the procedure was discharged within 24 hours, recovering nearly four times faster than typical cases following conventional brain surgery.

“The system gives us a level of steadiness and precision no human hand can maintain,” said Dr. Homoud Aldahash, a skull base tumor specialist who led the operation. “We removed the tumor with minimal disruption to surrounding tissue, and the patient’s rapid recovery is proof of its success.”

Robotic neurosurgery remains rare worldwide due to the complexity and millimeter-level precision required for operations within the skull. Traditional techniques depend on the surgeon’s manual dexterity and vision, while robotic platforms eliminate tremors, stabilize movements, and provide continuous 3D visualization, dramatically improving control and safety.

This latest achievement builds on KFSHRC’s growing global reputation in robotic medicine. The hospital previously performed the world’s first robotic heart and liver transplants, attracting interest from leading institutions in Europe and North America seeking to learn from its innovations.

Experts say the Riyadh procedure reflects a broader shift in global healthcare toward automation and precision-guided surgery. If current results are sustained, robotic neurosurgery could soon define a new era of minimally invasive care—once a distant concept, now a clinical reality.

KFSHRC continues to solidify its leadership in medical innovation, ranking first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers (2025). It also holds the title of the Middle East’s most valuable healthcare brand (Brand Finance 2025) and features in Newsweek’s “World’s Best Hospitals 2025,” “Best Smart Hospitals 2026,” and “Best Specialized Hospitals 2026” lists - cementing its role as a global hub for cutting-edge medical advancements.