Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center introduces:
Innovations in spine treatment 
An interview with neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Nelson
Boulder Neurosurgical Associates and practicing physician at Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center
Q. What types of spinal disorders do you treat?
A. Our practice comprehensively manages disorders of the spine including pain in the lower back or neck, disk herniations, degenerative spine disease, tumors of the spine or spinal cord, spinal instability, scoliosis, spinal trauma, osteoporotic fractures, and spinal cord stimulation for pain.
Q. What types of patients need spinal fusions?
A. Well, most patients who see us require no surgery at all and can improve with conservative measures alone. Of those who do require surgery, many do not need a "fusion." Simply removing whatever is pinching a nerve in the back, be it a bone spur or a disk herniation, will usually suffice and these procedures can usually be accomplished using minimally invasive techniques. Many patients go home the same day of the surgery. Spinal fusions are for patients with instability in the spine or for those who have pain in one of the joints of the spine that can resolve after that joint is immobilized.
Q. What is a minimally invasive spinal fusion?
A. Minimally invasive spinal fusions are a relatively recent development for spine surgeons and can dramatically decrease the recovery time after spinal fusion. Instead of a 6-10 hour surgery with an incision in the abdomen and in the lower back, a minimally invasive fusion can be done through small incisions on just the lower back alone and take only 2-3 hours to complete. There is less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and shorter recovery than for the more traditional open spinal fusions.
Q. What is the O-arm and how does it work?
A. The O-arm is a mobile imaging platform comparable to a CT scan that is optimized for spine surgery and dramatically increases the ability of the spine surgeon to visualize the bone of the spine during surgery. This leads to decreased time in the operating room and decreases the risk of hardware malposition during spine surgery. Exempla Good Samaritan was one of the fist hospitals in the country to purchase this new technology and is one of two hospitals in Colorado to have it. This commitment to innovative new technology is an exciting part of practicing here.
Q. What do these advancements mean for patients?
A. We're fortunate to be able to offer cutting-edge technologies and worldclass neurosurgery expertise - right here in our community. Even for the most serious cranial or spinal conditions, there's really no need to seek treatment elsewhere. On a personal note, I'm excited about where the technology is taking us, and how it's making a real difference in the lives of my patients and their families.
For more information, please contact Boulder Neurosurgical Associates at
|
