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1. Donald R. Johnson, II, MD Medical Director
Southeastern Spine Institute
MUSC Board of Trustees
Past Chairman
2. Advancements in Spinal Surgery What’s New ?
What Works?
What Can Get An Injured Worker Back To Work
What Saves Money?
3. Spinal Anatomy
4. Spinal Stenosis(Narrowing) Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the bony ring that surrounds the spinal cord. Causes include:
Bone spurs
Disc degeneration
Arthritis
Congenital
This condition is most common in elderly people, who have had years of wear-and-tear on their spines
5. Spinal Stenosis Stenosis of the spine can cause pain in the back as well as in other parts of the body.
Primary symptom is decreasing ablilty to walk- better with cart in store and better after sitting and bending over
Can lead to paralysis and bladder/bowel control
6. Traditional Surgery Laminectomy Usually Multiple Levels
7. Interspinons Distraction for Spinal Stenosis
8. FLEXUS Interspinous Spacer Introduce Product
“This is implant in final form”
“Will talk about implant, testing, and surgical technique”
“Stop me with any questions”Introduce Product
“This is implant in final form”
“Will talk about implant, testing, and surgical technique”
“Stop me with any questions”
9. Competitive Products
10. Surgical Technique
11. FLEXUS Surgical Technique Patient Position
Prone and in flexion
Incision
2-3 cm length
Midline
Separate paraspinal muscle
on right side
12. FLEXUS Surgical Technique Interspinous Perforator
Create starting hole through interspinous ligament
13. FLEXUS Surgical Technique Dilator – KEY PREPARATION STEP
Separate the bones(spinous processes)
15. Push trial past midline
Rotate trial 90°
16. Final Position
18. Discogenic Issues Discogenic Pain
Caused by a damaged disc. While this pain can be felt directly in the lower back, it may also be felt outside of the area of the damaged disc, such as in the buttocks or upper thighs.
Specific movements that put stress on this damaged disc can worsen the pain.
19. Discogenic Issues Pinched Nerve
Also know as radiculopathy, or sciatica, occurs when there is pressure on a nerve to cause irritation and inflammation.
20. Discogenic Issues Bulging or Herniated Disc
Herniated Disc occurs when the jelly-like center (nucleus) of the disc ruptures
Causes material to be pushed outside of the outer ring of the disc
Pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots cause pain, weakness, and/or numbness to certain areas of the body
21. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) DDD is a slow deterioration of the cushions located between vertebrae.
Since these discs act as a shock absorber between each vertebra, the reduction or loss of disc height can cause pain.
The so-called “degenerative disc” is not getting enough nutrients and will not be able to repair itself once injured.
22. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)starts as an annular tear If the outer ring, or annulus fibrosis, tears it can cause back pain.
The inner core of a disc, or the nucleus pulpous, is very soft and can cause severe leg pain if it comes into contact with the surrounding nerves.
23. Spondylolisthesis (Spinal Bone Slippage) Occurs when one vertebra slips forward in relation to an adjacent vertebra, usually in the lumbar spine.
Symptoms include pain in the low back, thighs and/or legs, muscle spasms, weakness, and/or tight hamstring muscles.
24. Spondylolisthesis (Spinal Bone Slippage) May result from the physical stress placed on the spine - lifting of heavy items, weightlifting, football, gymnastics, trauma, and general wear and tear.
As the vertebral components degenerate, the spine’s integrity is compromised.
25. Spondylolisthesis Depending on how far the vertebra has slipped, doctors label spondylolisthesis in four grades, I (one) being the least amount of slippage, all the way up to IV (four), which is the most slippage.
Not all cases of spondylolisthesis require surgery.
26. Spinal Fusion Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure in which two or more of the vertebrae in the spine are united together so that motion no longer occurs between them.
Between the vertebra- termed INTERBODY!
Usually a box(cage) filled with a bone “glue” May be supported by screws(pedicle) to allow glue in boxes to heal by keeping the bone and boxes still.
Spinal fusion can restore stability, correct alignment & reduce pain.
27. Interbody Fusion Approaches Once it is decided that an interbody fusion is appropriate, what are our choices? The options for approaches continue to expand and now involves any direction and therefore, offers the option for disease-directed decisions. I personally believe that “one surgery done well is best” is outdated and that each surgery should be individualized to each patient’s unique anatomy, clinical symptoms, outcome goals and disease. The “same” disc disease in a younger patient may be treated differently than in an older patient, or a thin habitus may be treated differently than an obese habitus, or a laborer may be treated differently than a retired person. The outcomes movement will demand that we put greater emphasis on the patient’s expectations and tailor our surgery when appropriate to these expectations or goals.
I will focus on the PLIF and TLIF approaches. The PLIF approach is essentially a pedicle - pedicle decompression and bilateral fusion with stabilization. The TLIF approach is essentially a pedicle - midline decompression and bilateral fusion with stabilization, though the primary musculotendonous disruption is unilateral and risks the nerves primarily unilateral.Once it is decided that an interbody fusion is appropriate, what are our choices? The options for approaches continue to expand and now involves any direction and therefore, offers the option for disease-directed decisions. I personally believe that “one surgery done well is best” is outdated and that each surgery should be individualized to each patient’s unique anatomy, clinical symptoms, outcome goals and disease. The “same” disc disease in a younger patient may be treated differently than in an older patient, or a thin habitus may be treated differently than an obese habitus, or a laborer may be treated differently than a retired person. The outcomes movement will demand that we put greater emphasis on the patient’s expectations and tailor our surgery when appropriate to these expectations or goals.
I will focus on the PLIF and TLIF approaches. The PLIF approach is essentially a pedicle - pedicle decompression and bilateral fusion with stabilization. The TLIF approach is essentially a pedicle - midline decompression and bilateral fusion with stabilization, though the primary musculotendonous disruption is unilateral and risks the nerves primarily unilateral.
28. Posterior Lumbar Interbody (PLIF) Fusion Direct decompression
Exposes spinal cord elements
Retraction risks to nerves
29. Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody (TLIF) Fusion Avoids spinal sac
Direct decompression possible
Potential nerve irritation
30. Anterior Lumbar Interbody (ALIF) Fusion Excellent visualization of disc space
Avoids spinal cord
Approach risks to organs and vascular structures
31. Extreme Lateral Interbody (XLIF)Fusion Approach for L4-L5 and above
Reduces muscle trauma
L5-S1 not accessible because of pelvis
32. Traditional Surgical Approaches
33. XLIF® Surgical Approach eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
Advantages:
Does not require entry through back muscles, bones, or the retraction of major blood vessels
34. Symptoms
Pain in the back, buttocks, or leg
XLIF Correction
Reduces motion between the vertebrae
Corrects alignment
Restores proper disc height
Alleviates pain
XLIF® Indication – Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
35. XLIF® Indication – Spondylolisthesis Symptoms
Impingement of nerves and fatigue of back muscles
XLIF Correction
Reduces motion between vertebrae, corrects alignment, and restores disc height
36. XLIF® Indication – Degenerative Scoliosis(Curvature) Symptoms
Back and/or leg pain due to muscle fatigue and nerve impingement
XLIF Correction
Restores proper alignment and disc height
39. Axial Lumbar Interbody (AxiaLIF) Fusion Has ability to spare 100% of Annulus
Preservation of Tissues & Muscles
Dynamic Decompression via Distraction
40. AxiaLIF Pre-Sacral Fusion Unique Features
Only interbody graft option where:
No muscle is dissected
No ligaments are cut
The disc annulus is preserved
42. AxiaLIF Immediate Results Pre Op Post Op
44. Patient Ms. C. F. Dx: Adult Lumbar Scoliosis
1. Lateral diskectomy L1-5
2. Xlif fusion L1-L5
3. Placement of plastic cage with bone glue
45. Pre-op Xrays Right Bending Left Bending
46. Pre-op LMRI Frontal
47. Pre-op Side View
48. Percutaneous (thru the skin) PedicleScrew Fixation
50. Pre-Op Cross Section
51. 2 Week Post-Op
52. Patient Ms. C. G. Dx: Adult Degenerative Scoliosis
Xlif at multiple levels
Percutaneous screws and rods
53. Pre-op Xrays
54. Pre-Op MRI Frontal
55. Pre-Op MRI Side View
56. Pre-Op MRI Cross Section
57. 1mo Post-Op
58. 7mo Post-Op
59. Patient Mr. T.A. Dx: Degenerative Disc Disease L5-S1
1. Axialift
60. Pre-Op Xrays
61. Pre-Op MRI Side View
62. Pre-Op MRI Cross Scetion
63. 2 week Post-Op
64. 6mo Post-op
65. Patient Mr. M.B. Dx: Degenerative disc disease with disc space collapse L3-4, L4-5, L5-1.
Dx: Annular tear with provocative discogram.
1.Xlif L3-L4, L4-L5
2. Percutaneous pedicle fixation L3, L4, L5, S1
3. Axilift L5-S1
66. Pre-Op Xrays
67. 2wk Post-Op
68. IntraoperativeNeuro-Monitoring
69. Cell Mediated Disc Therapy
70. FDA Study Starting March 1st- first FDA approved study of injection of cells to regrow and heal an injured disc
71. Isotech Davis Adkisson, Ph.D.Founder & Chief Scientific Officerfrom Summerville, SC
72. Outpatient Spine Surgery-Procedures currently being done at SSI Interspinous distraction
Laminectomy/discectomy-single and multiple levels
Anterior cervical fusion- 1and 2 levels
73. Anterior Cervical Fusion 32 Cases
3.5 Postop stay in RR before DC-no readmissions
74. Planning: as OUTPT Procedures at SSIInterbody Fusions Anterior lumbar fusion (ALIF)
Posterior lumbar fusion (PLIF)
XLIF
Axialif
Percutaneous pedicle screws
Average operative time 1 hr at SSI
75. Cost Savings Vs Hospital Based on EOBs obtained from pts is 50-66% cheaper to commercial payers
76. 2010 Workers Comp Fee Schedule (not ?’d since 2003)-medical provider cost index up 28%
77. Using Medicare Relative Valve Units (RVU’s)Good way to measure many different accounting metrics-but is system appropriate for the young injured worker?
78. Medicare Spine Surgery-most common spine surgeries Spinal Stenosis ? X-stop or multiple level laminectomies
Compression fx ? Kyphoplasty
Degenerative Scoliosis ? Long Fusions with Screws
79. Workers Compensation- most common spine surgeries Herniated disc ? lam/disc or anterior cervical fusion or cervical ADR
Annular tear ? lumbar disc replacement or interbody fusion or cell mediated therapy
Degenerative disc with foraminal stenosis ? interbody fusion ± screws
Spondylolisthesis ? laminectomy and fusion ± screws
80. Medicare not appropriate template for injured worker-especially for spinal care 1. Whats valued in Medicare may not be valued for injured worker2.Diseases/Medical conditions of spine are different
81. Impact of New WC Fee Schedule on SSI (8-10% of pts) Office visits ? 12.9%
EMG/Nerve ? 28.8%
Injections ? 6.7%
Spine Surgery decreased 10.0% !
82. Thoughts & Considerations Incentive to prolonged nonop care for injured spinal pts
Disincentive for surgeons to see
Time equals money in WC system
May cause delays of definitive treatment and ? cost to entire system
Issue of surgery for injury worker needs to be addressed by all parties in system
Spine cases are the most common and expensive cases in WC