Most readers of this back pain blog are well aware that I am no fan of surgical intervention for back pain. However, I do understand and accept that there are times for some people with certain back problems that spinal surgery is the way to go.
If it's really unavoidable then you may want to be living in Canada, preferably within striking distance of Toronto, as that is where neurosurgeon Dr. Howard Ginsberg is using an amazing piece of technology at St. Michael's Hospital to help him operate without opening up the back and exposing the spine.
A story on the Star.com website by Anne-Marie Tobin of The Canadian Press details a case history involving a young woman who suffered with a severe herniated disc problem after a sneeze.
After two "standard" back surgeries, she had reached a point where the pain was that bad she was barely able to walk. At which point she was referred to Dr. Ginsberg who is using a Ziehm 3D intraoperative scanner for spinal surgery.
This machine is accurate to within half a millimetre, and enables surgeons to place screws inside the body in a minimally invasive way. Thus reducing the risk to the patient. Dr. Ginsberg describes it as "like virtual surgery, but you're actually cutting people."
In the case of the young lady in question, she had a five-level spinal fusion. A big operation which would normally involve weeks in hospital, and taking days to get up and start moving around.
She got up the morning following her surgery, and is now living a normal life once more. Quite remarkable. If you want to read the whole story click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment