May 28, 2003
Genesis Medical Center Introduces Laser Back Surgery
New Treatment Method Promises Days Versus Weeks For Recovery
Davenport, IA - Today Genesis Medical Center became the only hospital in the state of Iowa and western Illinois to offer a video laser outpatient procedure to repair herniated lumbar discs. According to the Centers for Disease Control, some 250,000 Americans each year undergo back surgery when other therapies have failed. A Moline, IL man became the first patient to be treated with a percutaneous laser discectomy procedure at the Medical Center.
Charles Stier (pronounced St-I-er), 53, had been suffering with two herniated discs, which has prevented him from working for the last 14 months. The sciatic nerve is affected by one of the herniated discs, preventing Stier from walking further than from his house to his garage, and making sitting or standing for any period of time extremely painful. A maintenance electrician at Nichols-Homeshield, Davenport, Stier has not been able to work since March 2002.
Due to other health problems, Stier is not able to undergo general anesthesia that would accompany traditional back surgery. "I'm looking forward to relief from the pain and am eager to get back to work. During these last months, my quality of life has been less than desirable and I'd like to return to some of my hobbies such as gardening or fishing, " says Stier. Pain management specialist Ronny Kafiluddi, M.D., Ph.D., Anesthesia & Analgesia, P.C., performed today's procedure.
At one time or another, more than half the adult population suffers from lower back pain or sciatica - pain in the lower back and hip which radiates down the back of the thigh and leg. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that 56 percent of patients undergoing surgery for this condition are under the age of 44 years and 30 percent of patients are between the ages of 45 and 64 years.
"The traditional surgical approach for herniated discs is a procedure involving general anesthesia and a one to two inch incision made over the disc. Surgery involves dissecting and moving tissue, bone and muscle, moving aside the nerve and spinal cord, and cutting and removing the bulging part of the disc," says Kevin P. Wilson, D.O., Anesthesia & Analgesia, P.C., and medical director of the Genesis Pain Management Center. "This new procedure is considered minimally invasive. Instead of two days in the hospital and a six to eight week recovery period, a patient can expect a less than 24-hour stay in the hospital and be back to work within days. The risk of surgical complications is greatly reduced."
"In addition to faster recovery times, a key benefit is that vital supportive back structures are not harmed during this procedure," says Dr. Wilson. "Pain relief can be immediate or gradual, depending on the nature of the herniation."
"Lumbar discs are spongy pads of tissue contained within crisscrossing, rubber band-like fibers between the vertebrae. Discs give our backs flexibility and act like shock absorbers to protect and support the spine as we turn, lift and twist. A herniated disc loses its normal shape, much like a bulge on a tire and presses against nearby nerves. In a more serious herniation, the spongy disc material may actually break through the rubber band-like fibers or break free from the disc, pushing up against a nerve root," says Dr. Wilson.
The percutaneous laser discectomy procedure uses local anesthesia. The physician passes a needle or guide wire into the area of the herniated disc. A small tube, one-fourth the size of a drinking straw is passed over the guide wire and into the herniated disc. This tube, which creates a pathway for the "seeing laser device," dilates or stretches the skin: often eliminating the need for an incision. The endoscopic laser device is passed down the tube into a disc. Guided by the image on the screen, the surgeon uses the laser to vaporize the bulging part of the disc, relieving pressure on the nerve root.
A LASETM Holmium laser device provided by Clarus Medical, LLC, Minneapolis, was used for the procedure. The device is the width of a common wire hanger and includes fiber optic technology, which allows the physician to view the herniated disc on a television monitor. The device also includes a bright light, which illuminates the disc internally, a laser fiber and a tube for passing sterile water in and out of the disc. A continuous flow of water cools the laser fiber and disc tissue much like a radiator. Holmium laser energy provides shallow, controllable cutting capabilities, allowing physicians to selectively trim away herniated disc tissue and remove it from the body.
Genesis Pain Management Center serves patients suffering from chronic and acute pain, and from pain caused by cancer. Treatment options often include counseling, biofeedback therapy and nutritional advice. The Center is located in the Genesis Plaza, 2535 Maplecrest Road, Bettendorf. For further information, call Genesis On Call at 421-2000 or 800-383-2575.
