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.

Case Presentation and literature review of the importance of screening for this injury

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.

Physicians with HealthEast Care System will perform an innovative spine procedure live on the Internet. The procedure at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota will take place on April 19 at 4:00 pm Central Time.

This live webcast will involve physicians from HealthEast Spine Care and HealthEast Osteoporosis Care. Mark Myers, MD, an interventional neuroradiologist, will perform the balloon kyphoplasty. Joining Dr. Myers with commentary will be Michael Madison, MD, an interventional neuroradiologist and medical director of the HealthEast Neurovascular Institute, and international osteoporosis expert, Christine Simonelli, MD, internal medicine physician and medical director of HealthEast Osteoporosis Care.

During balloon kyphoplasty, the doctor makes a small incision in the back and places a narrow tube through it. Using x-ray images, the doctor inserts a special balloon through the tube and into the vertebrae and then the balloon is inflated. As the balloon inflates, it elevates the fracture, achieving a more normal position. The balloon is removed and the doctor uses specially designed instruments under low pressure to fill in the cavity with a cement-like material called polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA. The paste material hardens quickly and stabilizes the bone. Balloon Kyphoplasty can be done as an outpatient procedure.

This cutting-edge treatment is ideal for certain patients with osteoporosis experiencing painful symptoms from recent compression fractures. Balloon Kyphopasty should be done within eight weeks of a fracture for the best results in restoring the patient's height.

See an innovative lumbar fusion using Medtronic's CD HORIZON® LEGACY™ PEEK Rod System. Join Todd Lanman, M.D. and Russ Nockels, M.D. as they perform this procedure during a live surgical broadcast at 6:00 PM CDT (23:00 UTC) on OR-Live.com

The CD HORIZON LEGACY PEEK Rod System uses rods made of polyetheretherketone, a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer that meets all biocompatibility requirements and has a long history of use in surgical implants. When combined with CD HORIZON® Spinal System-based pedicle screws and minimally invasive approach options such as the MAST QUADRANT™ Retractor Set, the CD HORIZON LEGACY PEEK Rod dynamically stabilizes the affected segment while allowing for a streamlined surgical technique that preserves much of the natural anatomy.

The CD HORIZON LEGACY PEEK Rod is suited for stabilizing the spine in conjunction with an arthrodesis procedure. The system allows for reduced stress on the screw-bone anchor points and construct instrumentation and better stress distribution throughout the construct. The PEEK Rod material is also radiolucent, reducing scatter and artifact in CT and MRI images. OR Live is a production of slp3D, an internet broadcasting company which creates live and on-demand video-based communications solutions for clients in the healthcare industry.

In a premiere broadcast on May 11th, 12:00 PM EDT (16:00:00 UTC) join Neurosurgeon Andrew Rhea and Orthopaedic surgeon Bill Edwards as they demonstrate Innovative Reconstructive Care of the Cervical Spine.
Spine disorders account for an estimated 130 million outpatient, hospital and emergency room visits in the U.S. each year--to put this in perspective total health care expenditures on neck and back pain represented 1% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. The enormous costs for care and lost productivity together pose a double-barrel threat... to the economy, but also, continued access to affordable care for patients.

See the least invasive solution for truly percutaneous 360-degree lumbar fusion at L5-S1. The AxiaLIF®360™ procedure will be presented in a live webcast from Texas Back Institute & Plano Presbyterian Center for Diagnostics and Surgery at 12 Noon CDT (17:00 UTC)

AxiaLIF 360º combines the stability of the TranS1® 3D Axial Rod™ with percutaneous facet screws to provide a percutaneous fusion and stabilization solution at L5-S1. The AxiaLIF 360º system provides posterior stability comparable to pedicle screw fixation. This least invasive system allows atraumatic access to the facet joints, no muscle splitting or stripping, and there is less morbidity and blood loss compared to pedicle screw fixation. The AxiaLIF 360º system preserves native soft tissue, provides robust anterior fixation with a posterior tension band, and can be reproducibly completed in 60-90 minutes.

Texas Back Institute surgeon Dan Bradley, MD will perform the procedure and accept questions from viewers during the live webcast.