Orthopedics This Week | February 16, 2016 | Page 21

ORTHOPEDICS THIS WEEK VOLUME 12, ISSUE 6 | FEBRUARY 16, 2016 So what were they doing right? “First of all,” says Dr. Riew, “the neck ‘pain’ was probably nerve compression pain. All we had to do was take the pressure off the nerves. We are also very meticulous about preserving the integrity of the posterior cervical spine muscles. We open very carefully under microscope visualization, often using Metzenbaum scissors blunt dissection. We also close meticulously and in multiple layers. If you take great care with the dissection, the patient only loses a little blood and the muscles heal much better and continue to function normally.” “Midline axial pain probably won’t improve. However, if the pain is in the upper trapezial area, then it will improve in a high percentage of cases.” “Many surgeons in the U.S. don’t do laminoplasty either because it takes a long time, they don’t know how to do it or because it doesn’t reimburse well. The more we publicize the fact that it’s a great operation, the more doctors will 21 take the trouble to learn it. I have written several instructional articles on it and the most recent one will be coming out in OKOJ (Orthopedic Knowledge Online Journal) soon. And any of my surgeon colleagues are welcome to come to The Spine Hospital to watch me perform this procedure. I do an average of one per week, at least. We will also be posting a video on the technique soon.” Surgeons interested in watching Dr. Riew perform laminoplasty feel free to contact him at: [email protected] ♦ iFuse Implant System® Clinical Results: the only SI joint fusion system with an RCT demonstrating safety and effectiveness* * Polly, D.W. et al., Neurosurgery. 2015.— Dr. Polly is an investigator on a clinical research study sponsored by SI-BONE. He has no financial interest in SI-BONE. Research was funded by SI-BONE, Inc. A list of additional published studies is available at www.si-bone.com/results The iFuse Implant System® is intended for sacroiliac fusion for conditions including sacroiliac joint dysfunction that is a direct result of sacroiliac joint disruption and degenerative sacroiliitis. This includes conditions whose symptoms began during pregnancy or in the peripartum period and have persisted postpartum for more than 6 months. Clinical studies have demonstrated that treatment with the iFuse Implant System improved pain, patient function, and quality of life at 12 months post-implantation. There are potential risks associated with the iFuse Implant System. It may not be appropriate for all patients and all patients may not benefit. For information about the risks, visit www.si-bone.com/risks SI-BONE and iFuse Implant System are registered trademarks of SI-BONE, Inc. © 2016 SI-BONE, Inc. All rights reserved. U.S. Patent Nos. 8,202,305; 8,840,623; 8,986,348 and 9,039,743; pending U.S. and foreign patent applications. 9457.121815 Advertisement ryortho.com | 1-888-749-2153