Spinal Surgery

Standing Tall

Whether it's pins, innovative devices or the patient's own bone, Scott & White surgeons draw from the latest surgical materials and treatments to find solutions for degenerative problems of the spine. Minimally invasive surgeries and advanced techniques help to improve outcomes and speed recovery time for many spinal patients.

Standing Tall
From Quarterly (Winter 2004)

It's one of the sturdiest, yet most fragile parts of our body—the spine. It is the focal point of all of the flexibility in our body and constantly withstands barrages of movement that force it to twist, turn, bend, lean and slump. With time, this can result in significant wear and tear on the spine. Not surprisingly, back pain is one of the most common pains people experience as they get older. The good news is, for many degenerative problems of the spine, there are solutions to help people get back on their feet.

Christopher Chaput, M.D., a surgeon in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, focuses his attention on just such problems – and solutions.

Surgical Stabilizers for the Spine
"The most common surgeries in regards to the spine have to do with degeneration of the discs and joints in the spine," Dr. Chaput said. "Many times the degenerative changes in the back can put pressure on the nerves causing pain and instability. The discs that are in between the vertebrae are supposed to act like shock absorbers, but they can break down, causing them to bulge and press on nerves. We can go in and stabilize the spine by putting bone or pins in the front or back, minimizing the patient's pain and helping him/her regain function in everyday life."

Specially-trained to treat disorders of the spine, Dr. Chaput sees a variety of ages, from pediatric to geriatric patients, and performs a wide range of procedures to help with degenerative problems, hereditary problems, trauma, and pain management. And just this fall, he began using a new procedure to treat patients with problems in their cervical spine, the area of the spine that starts at the base of the head and ends just above the shoulders. This is an area where many people experience pain, mainly from pressure placed on the nerves throughout the neck.

A New Type of Spinal Implant
The procedure involves inserting a specially-designed "cage" made of titanium into the patient's spine that allows his/her own bone to grow through it. It is about the width of a dime and half an inch long, and is similar to an actual cage. The spaces in between the slots in the cage allow bone to grow through and over the cage. As the bone grows, it stabilizes that area of the spine, reducing the pressure on the nerves, which results in less pain for the patient.

Using Native Bone
"This new procedure allows us to use the patient's own bone to fix the problem. In the past, we have taken bone from a patient's hip or we have used donor bone to reinforce his/her spine. But on some occasions, persistent pain developed in the area from which the bone was taken. This eliminates that extra step. In addition, the cage allows us to use very small incisions with minimal retraction of the surrounding tissues. This decreases patient discomfort afterwards," Dr. Chaput said. "In working with the spine, our goal is to reduce pain and improve function. The tools are always changing, and there will always be new research and new options for patients. The real art is learning how to utilize these advances to the maximum benefit of each patient. That is where Scott & White excels, and this new procedure is a wonderful example of that."

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