New back surgery minimizes recovery time

Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006

Nearly 65 million Americans suffer from lower back pain at one time or another during the year. At least 85 percent of the nation’s population will seek the advice of a physician once in their life for low back pain, often due to disc and bone degeneration. In 1990, the costs of lumbar spine surgery (connecting two or more bony segments together) to the general population were in excess of $24 billion. It is estimated to be twice that figure today.

Traditional methods of lumbar fusion involve cutting skin, fatty tissue and muscle, which may cause permanent damage to the muscle and ligament structures of the spine, precipitating scar tissue. Average hospitalization for the traditional techniques is between three to five days, often including postoperative blood transfusions. Home recuperation and rehabilitation can be between four and 12 months, and patient time off work averages about six months but can be permanent.

Now a new technique is available here in Frederick for lumbar spinal fusions. This new and innovative technique uses small incisions sealed together with skin glue (no staples or suture scars) and does not involve cutting muscle. The muscle fibers are separated apart, avoiding scars and blood loss. The spine surgeon can remove the disc or discs (multiple levels), replace the disc space with bone graft and an interbody construct, place bone graft on the back side of the spinal vertebrae and even stabilize the bones with the insertion of rods and screws, all through these small incisions that do not cut, scar or lose blood.

Dr. Dennis Winters, a board-certified neurosurgeon, is trained in this new technique called Minimal Access Spinal Technology (MAST) and has been performing this minimally invasive spine surgery since 1999. Since he has been offering the MAST procedure, his patients are able to go home the same day as the surgery and return to work on average within three months. There is no mandatory bed rest or bracing that needs to be worn, and his patients are encouraged to be active as soon as possible. Dr. Winters reports a success rate when using the MAST technique in excess of 90 percent. Insurance does cover this procedure.

For more information on this innovative technique, contact Dennis D. Winters, M.D., at Central Maryland Neurosurgical Spinal Specialists Inc., 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 200, Frederick, MD 21702, or call 301-846-0100.

On Health is a new monthly column submitted by Frederick Memorial Hospital.