Throughout the twenty-first century, robotic surgery has been used in multiple
oral surgical procedures for the treatment of head and neck tumors and
non-malignant diseases. With the assistance of robotic surgical systems,
maxillofacial surgery is performed with less blood loss, fewer complications,
shorter hospitalization and better cosmetic results than standard open surgery.
However, the application of robotic surgery techniques to the treatment of head
and neck diseases remains in an experimental stage, and the long-lasting effects
on surgical morbidity, oncologic control and quality of life are yet to be
established. More well-designed studies are needed before this approach can be
recommended as a standard treatment paradigm. Nonetheless, robotic surgical
systems will inevitably be extended to maxillofacial surgery. This article
reviews the current clinical applications of robotic surgery in the head and
neck region and highlights the benefits and limitations of current robotic
surgical systems.