(1888PressRelease)
December 10, 2008 - Beverly, MA - A patient at SouthCrest Hospital in Tulsa, OK, was the first patient in the Midwestern United States to receive an innovative FDA-approved spine implant called the FacetFuse(TM). Designed by world renowned surgeons working with SpineFrontier(TM), the FacetFuse implant relieves severe lower back and leg pain by fusing two vertebrae together using only two small screws. Traditional spinal fusions usually have required 4 large screws, along with 2 rods and locking nuts.
Renowned spine surgeon, Dr. Steven C. Anagnost, M.D., performed the surgery at SouthCrest Hospital. The patient, a 29 year-old female with severe back pain and burning leg pain, was treated with the FacetFuse screws. Because of the new smaller minimally invasive screw design, the patient was walking about the hospital only four hours after her procedure. “This new procedure is a major improvement compared to many traditional techniques of spinal fusion.” states Dr. Anagnost, M.D.
Designed and evaluated by world-renowned practicing spine surgeons, the FacetFuse implant is state of the art. “The new screw system often allows a much faster recovery and better outcomes compared with traditional pedicle screws,” said Dr. Steven C. Anagnost, M.D. “There is also much less hardware required to stabilize patients with spinal diseases.”
The FacetFuse device is implanted through a minimally invasive surgical technique that only requires an incision about 1.5 centimeters long. In comparison to traditional spine surgery, this minimally invasive technique is a major breakthrough in spinal surgery. Minimally Invasive surgery usually offers less blood loss, less postoperative pain, less operative time, shorter hospital stays, and a faster recovery. All these add up to better patient care. “This device will significantly benefit surgeons and their patients”, said Dr. Kingsley R. Chin one of the inventing surgeons.
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