American Spine Physicians Present a novel Lumbar Endoscopic Approach at the International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS) meeting in Sapporo, Japan

FREDERICK, Md., July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- American Spine physicians Dr. Atif B. Malik and Dr. Sandeep Sherlekar attended the International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS) meeting in Sapporo, Japan. Sapporo is the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and has been world famous since hosting the 1972 Olympic Winter Games. It is the administrative center of the island and has a unique history, being developed and modernized based on specialized knowledge of foreign advisors. Consequently, Sapporo was built based on a North American-style grid street plan. Dr. Malik said, "Visiting Sapporo allows one to gain a fuller understanding of Japanese people and their history."

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130716/FL48308 )

The meeting was hosted by Japanese Orthopaedic Society of Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine (JOSKAS) and held at the Sapporo Convention Center on June 20th and 21st. Attendees from all over the planet had the opportunity to conduct invaluable academic exchanges with more than 2000 JOSKAS members who are experts in minimally invasive surgery in the field of spine, knee, arthroscopy and sports medicine in Japan and throughout the world. The 2013 conference greatly promoted the development of minimally invasive spinal surgery in expanding an already wide range of academic and professional contacts, establishing new friendships and strengthening old ones.

Dr. Sandeep Sherlekar presented an American Spine study on a novel Endoscopic Transiliac Approach to L5-S1 Disc and Foramen Cadaver Study. The study involved collaborative effort of American Spine physicians: Said G Osman, M.D., F.A.A.O.S., F.R.C.S.Ed. (Orthopaedic); Sandeep Sherlekar, M.D., Atif Malik M.D., Charles Winters, M.D.; PK Grewal M.D., and Malini Narayanan, M.S., M.D. Dr. Sherlekar said, "This is an innovative approach to performing surgery on the L5-S1 disc which is often difficult to reach endoscopically especially in men." At American Spine, many patients with high iliac crests have had this surgery with great results and no increased pain than a regular endoscopic procedure.

Traditionally, surgical treatment involves discectomy and long recovery with greater potential for developing chronic pain due to the collateral damage of the muscles and increased scar tissue, especially at the L5-S1 levels. At American Spine, we specialize on endoscopic approach that enables the surgeon to perform the surgery through a quarter-inch incision at any level. The endoscope is a device with light source to which a video camera is attached, and inserted into the disc through a thin metal tube. The image obtained by the video-camera is viewed on a screen, magnified several times the actual size of the structure being visualized. Small movements and corrections of the endoscope are monitored in the surgical suite through a C-arm and or endoscopic vision technologies. Special medical tools designed for minimally invasive surgical procedures allow the surgeon to repair or remove the disc herniation either mechanically, radio-frequency or with a laser with reduced risk of surrounding tissue damage. Following removal of the damaged vertebral pieces or disc, the area is then irrigated for improved healing. Endoscopic discectomy procedure avoids fusion, hence, maintains motion at the operated level.  This is in contradistinction to traditional decompression and fusion, which causes stiffness of the operated disc and thereby increasing stress on the adjacent discs with possibility of accelerated wear and tear of neighboring discs.

At American Spine we can do endoscopic discectomy and foraminectomy in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar levels.  Unlike open surgery, the endoscopic discectomy often can be performed in less than an hour, on outpatient basis. A week after endoscopic procedures patients are expected to resume normal activities.

For the right patients with particular findings on their MRI studies, minimally invasive options allow American Spine physicians to take care of the problem and get patients back to their activities more rapidly than with conventional surgical procedures.

To contact American Spine, please visit us at www.americanspinemd.com or call (240) 629-3939.

SOURCE American Spine