Table 2 Current application and future development of robotic surgery in head and neck non-malignant diseases

Lip and palate cleft^110–111

Low damage to the vascularization and related innervation of surrounding muscles, quick function recovery

Long surgical duration

More high-quality clinical investigation

Maxillofacail fracture

Insufficient data

Insufficient data

Specific design of related robotic surgical system

Craniofacial asymmetry^114–115

Insufficient data

Insufficient data

Transition from theoretical feasibility to clinical application

OSAS^117–128

Low intropetative bleeding and tracheotomy, decreased postoperative pain, hospital stay as well as incidence of dysphagia

Unstable cure rate varies from 45% to 90%, significant postoperative lingual oedema and transient hypogeusia

Combination of robotic resection of BOT and conventional surgery like uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or sphincter pharyngoplasty

Others

 Laryngeal clefts¹²⁹

In common; minimal damage to surrounding normal tissues as well as speech and swallow function; excellent aesthetics

Laryngeal lefts: unsatisfactory cure rate

Laryngeal lefts: application of specific miniaturized instruments to obtain enough surgical space

 Laryngocele¹³⁰

Laryngocele: short operative time

 Ectopic lingual thyroid^131–133

Ectopic lingual thyroid: short operative time and low recurrence

 Ptyalolithiasis^134–135

Ptyalolithiasis: high cure rate and low lingual nerve damage rate

 Vascular lesion¹³⁶