New Technology Comes to Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky

New technology hits the Western Kentucky area. Last week Western Baptist Hospital announced that it would be among the few hospitals in the United States that offers Artificial Disk Replacement surgery (ADR), which is a great alternative to the more traditional Spinal Fusion. In the past, spinal fusion was considered the only surgical treatment available for low back pain that is associated with degenerative disk disease, herniated disks and bulging disks. In spinal fusion, the disk is removed and the adjoining disks are fused with the use of bone grafts, metal plates and screws. Although this surgery will reduce pain, it can also result in loss of flexibility and movement in the spine. The recovery time for spinal fusion is 4 to 6 months.

The new procedure that has been introduced to western Kentucky will affect so many lives, including mine. Artificial Disk Replacement is a new treatment for us here in the United States, but this procedure has been available in Europe for years now. The procedure and the artificial disk was recently FDA approved for use in the United States and now available at select hospitals.

The procedure for motion preserving (ADR) is relatively simple, the surgeon removes the bad disk and inserts a metal and plastic disk without having to graft bones or use cadaver bones. Recovery time for this procedure is 4 weeks instead of the 4 to 6 months with spinal fusion. As with all new treatments and procedures, the indications for its use are still being studied and most limited because only a few hospitals offer this procedure in America.

Who is a candidate for (ADR)?
Patient should be under the age of 60
Patient should have only one bad disk that needs attention
Patient is free from any other bone diseases
Patient should have a healthy weight
Patient has not had any other back surgeries

Patient has failed to respond to other treatments such as trigger and point injections, epidural and physical therapy

Disk replacement surgery is not recommended for patients that have osteoporosis and systemic bone disease. These patients are better candidates for the more traditional spinal fusion.

Along with the new Artificial Disk Replacement surgery, Western Baptist also welcomes K. Brandon Strenge, MD to its staff. Dr. Strenge is an orthopedic surgeon from Santa Monica, CA that has been specially trained and has extensive experience with Artificial Disk Replacement Surgery. I have been suffering from degenerative disk disease herniated disks for 7 years now. When I first had my accident I was informed by my spine surgeon then to wait as long as I can before I choose to have surgery because as he stated "in the near future, there will be a better procedure than spinal fusion". Well I have waited and am in dyer need of this surgery and hope that it will be possible for me in my near future. I personally would like to welcome Dr. Strenge to Western Kentucky and I am sure that I have finally found the doctor I can trust with my spine.

References for this article came from www.hospital-data.com and www.microspine.com