Spine start-ups

Total Health | June 30th, 2009

It's amazing what you can find on the web. Someone called Tiger Buford has made a stab at compiling a list of spine startups on his OrthoStream blog. He's found 127 but admits the list may be incomplete.

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Expert articles

Neurosurgery for pain management

By Mr Ranjeev Bhangoo, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
King's College Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic

The aim of neurosurgery has always been to gain the maximal benefit for the patient with the minimum amount of risk. Neurosurgery can be used to treat back, neck, leg and arm pain following a thorough assessment by a neurosurgeon. In most cases further tests will be ordered to assess which nervesBundles of fibres that carry information in the form of electrical impulses. are involved in the pain and this is usually an MRIAn abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging, a technique for imaging the body that uses electromagnetic waves and a strong magnetic field. scan of the spine.

The Ageing Spine

By Dr Nigel Kellow, Consultant Interventional Spine and Pain PhysicianContact
Barts and the London NHS Trust, London Orthopaedic Clinic

Like the rest of our bodies the spine is in its best shape in early adult life, but as the years go by after that the twin effects of age and the consequences of our ancestors having adopted an upright posture begin to take their toll. This article looks at the ways in which the spine changes as we get older, and the problems they can cause.

Image guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of bone metastases

By Dr Nigel Kellow, Consultant Interventional Spine and Pain PhysicianContact
Barts and the London NHS Trust, London Orthopaedic Clinic

Most patients with cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. develop metastatic tumourAn abnormal swelling. deposits in their bones at some stage. These are most often as the result of secondary spread from primary cancers in the breast, lung, and prostateA gland that surrounds the urethra near the bladder. It produces a fluid that forms part of the semen., but less common cancers such as those arising in the kidneyOne of two bean-shaped organs that are located on either side of the body, below the ribcage. The main role of the kidneys is to filter out waste products from the blood. or thyroidA gland in the neck that produces hormones with a role in controlling metabolism. frequently spread to bone. 

Minimally Invasive Balloon Kyphoplasty

By Mr Khai Lam, Consultant Orthopaedic SurgeonContact
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London Bridge Hospital

Spine fractures are often the result of bone weakening (osteoporosisA condition resulting in brittle bones due to loss of bony tissue.) and are known as vertebralAffecting the vertebrae, the bones of the spine, or the joints between them body fractures. These fractures are a serious problem and have a highly negative impact on quality of life through pain and reduced mobility. More conservative methods of treatment aim simply at pain reduction and this often requires narcotic pain medication, bed rest and/or spinal orthotic support. Satisfactory pain control is often only achieved after several weeks of treatment.

Minimal Access Spinal Surgery

By Mr Khai Lam, Consultant Orthopaedic SurgeonContact
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London Bridge Hospital

The aim of minimal access spinal surgery (MASS) is the reduction of 'collateral damage' to muscles, ligaments and soft tissueA group of cells with a similar structure and a specialised function. associated with traditional spinal surgery whilst obtaining the same clinical outcomes of traditional open procedures. The technique has been developed to complement minimal invasive spinal surgery (MISS) as the latter does not allow for direct visualisation of the spine. In that regard these two techniques DO NOT alter the indications or goals of surgery.

Recent news

Treating spine fractures with Balloon Kyphoplasty

Total Health | January 4th, 2012

Spinal fractures can be a serious problem due to the high levels of back pain and reduced mobility. Treatments range from medication to reduce pain through to keyhole surgeryA type of minimally invasive surgery. aimed at repairing the fractured vertebra through the insertion of special bone cement. A new and minimally invasive procedure for treating fractures of the spine is Balloon Kyphoplasty.

Patients with heart failure often suffer undiagnosed osteoporosis

Total Health | May 11th, 2011

Research carried out in Canada suggests that one in 10 patients suffering from heart disease also have compression fractures in the spine that could have been detected by a chest X-rayA type of electromagnetic radiation used to produce images of the body., but few will be receiving treatment to help prevent such fractures. The study, which was published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Heart Failure, investigated 623 heart disease patients and found that 12 per cent had moderate to severe compression fractures of the spine and 55 per cent of those had multiple fractures. These fractures are a sign of osteoporosisA condition resulting in brittle bones due to loss of bony tissue., a condition that causes bones to become less dense more likely to break. Only 15 per cent of the heart disease patients with spinal fractures were being treated for osteoporosis, despite having a higher risk for fractures.

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