Background: Minimally invasive approaches for lumbar fusion are aimed at reducing soft tissue injury in order to minimize surgical morbidity and facilitate recovery. Method: Applied to oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF), Da Vinci® robot (DVR) assistance can help specially in obese patients. Positioning and important anatomical landmarks are reviewed. Indications, advantages, and limitations are discussed, and a step-by-step description of the procedure is presented. OLIF can be achieved efficiently through this approach with lesser blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and reduced rate of general complications.

Conclusion: The use of DVR assistance for OLIF is a promising new technique.