SYSTEM OF PERFORMING SPINE SURGERY AND MAINTAINING A VOLUME OF FLUID AT A SURGICAL SITE

A surgical system for performing spine surgery. The system comprises a retractor that may be positioned within a patient to facilitate maintaining a volume of fluid at a surgical site. The retractor includes an opening capable of receiving one or more surgical instruments, for example, a cutting instrument and an endoscope. A cutting member of the cutting instrument may be submerged and operated within the volume of fluid to resect tissue, for example, within the intervertebral disc space. The volume of fluid maintained at the surgical site improves cooling of the surgical site and visualization of the surgical site via the endoscope during resection. The volume of fluid is maintained at the surgical site via the surgical system. The surgical system includes a sensor for measuring the level of fluid in the retractor, an inflow source and an outflow source having an outflow sensor and being in fluid communication with the retractor, and a controller controlling the surgical system.