Orthopaedic MD

"The PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc, was the first artificial disc approved for the cervical spine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and it is an exciting option for patients," said Dr. Bianco. "The disc is inserted into the neck using a similar procedure to the technique surgeons use when performing a spinal fusion and is used in a procedure called cervical disc arthroplasty. At 24 months post-operative, this procedure was statistically superior in neurological success and overall success in a clinical trial that compared the clinical outcomes of cervical artificial disc replacement (PRESTIGE Cervical Disc) to anterior cervical discectomy and spinal fusion procedures.

The procedure, called XLIF® (eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion), involves a lateral, or side, approach to the patient, rather than from the back or front. This approach provides direct access to the disc space, allowing for complete disc removal and implant insertion.

An estimated 10 million adults suffer from chronic back and leg pain, which often limits their activities. It is estimated that more than one million patients undergo spine surgery each year in the U.S. Until recently, adults with back or leg pain have undergone traditional, or ‘open', spine surgery, requiring large incisions, significant recovery time and a delay in return to normal activity.

On Friday December 5th at 7:00 PM EST, join experts from Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian for a live panel discussion on VEPTR and growing rods to treat early onset scoliosis.

Patients with early-onset scoliosis can develop severe, complex spinal deformity that distorts and reduces the volume of the thorax. This deformity inhibits the growth of alveoli and pulmonary arterioles during the critical lung maturation period between birth and the age of eight. The resulting condition, thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS), can be a life-threatening condition that compromises respiratory function and increases morbidity. It can also cause a significant increase in mortality rates in affected individuals.

On Tuesday, September 11 at 10:30am EDT, world renowned orthopaedic surgeon Henry H. Bohlman, MD, will perform a cervical laminoplasty during a live webcast from University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

For patients with painfully restricted spinal canals in their necks, this procedure immediately relieves pressure by creating more space for the spinal cord and roots. The technique is often referred to as an "open door laminoplasty," because the back of the vertebrae is made to swing open like a door.

During a cervical laminoplasty, an incision is made on the back of the neck. A groove is cut down one side of the cervical vertebrae, creating a hinge. The other side of the vertebrae is cut all the way through. Then, the tips of the spinous processes are removed to create room for the bones to pull open like a door. The back of each vertebrae is bent open like a door on its hinge, taking pressure off the spinal cord and nerve roots. Small wedges made of bone are placed in the opened space of the door.

At the end of the operation, the door of the vertebrae swings shut, and the wedges stop it from closing all the way. The spinal cord and the nerve roots rest comfortably behind the door.