"Now we are able to offer a select group of patients better motion with fewer short- and long-term complications. It's an exciting time to be a neurosurgeon."
— Alvin Marcovici, MD, Neurosurgeon,
who performed one of the first artificial disc replacements in New England
| For Immediate Release | Contact: Joyce Faria Brennan |
| June 22, 2005 | 508-961-5270 |
| brennanj@southcoast.org | |
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Southcoast neurosurgeon Alvin Marcovici, MD, performed Southcoast's first artificial disc replacement on May 13 at Charlton Memorial Hospital, the Fall River site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "The patient, a 34 year-old male, is doing very well after a successful surgery," Dr. Marcovici said.
The CHARITÉ Artificial Disc, approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration last October, replaces a damaged or worn out spinal disc with an artificial one. Artificial disc replacement is offered to qualifying patients at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, both part of Southcoast Hospitals Group. Dr. Marcovici is currently the only neurosurgeon in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island performing the procedure.
"This is the next generation in spine surgery," said Dr. Marcovici. "The artificial disc is an alternative to spinal fusion in selected patients, currently the standard surgery for treating degenerative disc disease (DDD). Now we are able to offer a select group of patients better motion with fewer short- and long-term complications. It's an exciting time to be a neurosurgeon."
Ronald Goodspeed, MD, MPH, FACP, FACPE, President of Southcoast Hospitals Group, commended Dr. Marcovici, saying that this is a "major breakthrough for back surgery and the patients of the South Coast region, who will be among the first in the country to have this innovative procedure available at their own community hospital."
"Southcoast Health System has invested a great deal in recent years in strengthening its neurosurgery program — both in equipment and technology and the recruitment of top neurosurgeons, who bring expertise in the very latest techniques and treatments for disorders involving both the brain and spine," Dr. Goodspeed said.
The Next Generation in Spine Surgery
There are many afflictions that cause back pain and not all require surgery. When discs wear out, rupture or bulge, it can cause a condition called degenerative disc disease, or DDD. This disease leads to significant pain and numbness or tingling in the arms or legs. Although 80 percent of adults will experience back pain, only 1 to 2 percent will need lumbar spine surgery.
Neurosurgeons at Southcoast Hospitals perform complex spinal surgery using new technology such as plates and cages that can literally rebuild large areas of the spine. This technology has provided dramatic results to patients who suffer from debilitating disc problems or spinal deformities like scoliosis, or curvature of the spine.
Lumbar spinal fusion is still considered the "standard" for DDD and is appropriate for many patients who may not qualify for the artificial disc replacement, Dr. Marcovici said.
According to Dr. Marcovici, the downside to spinal fusion is that it is more invasive and alters the body's anatomy by literally "fusing" or "bonding" two vertebrae together after the afflicted disc is removed. The surgery itself often times requires two incisions, a bone graft taken from the hip and the incision on the back. The hospital stay is approximately four days with a recovery of three to six months and long-term can result in limited mobility.
"For patients who are in chronic pain the spinal fusion can be very beneficial in reducing pain and restore some level of activity," Dr. Marcovici said.
In comparison, the artificial disc replacement removes the disc and replaces it with the artificial disc, a three-piece medical device with a sliding core or disc sandwiched between two metal endplates. Dr. Marcovici said the device is similar to that used in knee and hip replacements.
The surgery itself is also less invasive than the spinal fusion. Performed by two surgeons — a vascular surgeon and neurosurgeon — the incision is made on the front of the body near the belly button similar to a cesarean section. Typically when spine surgery is performed from the front, the vascular surgeon assists by moving the organs so that the neurosurgeon has a clear path to the spinal column.
Vascular surgeon John Polk, MD, performed this surgery with Dr. Marcovici at Southcoast Hospitals.
The CHARITÉ Artificial Disc is produced by DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson company. Though recently approved in the United States, it has a long clinical history and has been proven safe and durable with more than 17 years and thousands of implantations worldwide with the current design. This procedure is currently only performed on a single disc.
Dr. Marcovici began training on the artificial disc during its trial phase. Physicians who wish to use the prosthetic are required to undergo comprehensive training and education, which includes a combination of hands-on surgery, consultation and visitation with top spine surgeons, lectures and Web-based educational materials. There are only 15 spine centers throughout the United States who offer this type of artificial disc replacement.
Alvin Marcovici, MD
Dr. Marcovici is in practice with Matthew Philips, MD. He is a graduate of the Yale University School of Medicine and completed general surgery and neurological surgery residencies at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He also completed a spine fellowship at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.
He performs a range of highly complex neurosurgery and has completed research and published articles on topics that include brain tumor research and research on cerebral aneurysms.
Dr. Marcovici specializes in complex spine and brain procedures including the latest techniques in surgical treatment of scoliosis, spinal instability, brain tumors, aneurysms and surgical treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders. Dr. Marcovici, along with Southcoast neurosurgeons Matthew Philips, MD, Leslie Stern, MD, and Ronald Hantman, MD, currently perform more than 700 neurosurgery procedures at both the St. Luke's Hospital and the Charlton Memorial Hospital sites, making Southcoast the leading provider of neurosurgical services in the region.
The Brain/Spine program at Southcoast Hospitals is led by a team of highly trained neurosurgeons, neurologists, physiatrists (rehabilitation specialists), and qualified support staff.
To learn more about Southcoast's Neurosurgery program or the CHARITÉ Artificial Disc, visit www.southcoast.org/neuro/.
About Southcoast
Southcoast Health System, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is a community based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes Southcoast Hospitals Group, formed in 1996 from the merger of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast is one of three community hospitals approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to perform open heart surgery and primary angioplasty beginning in Spring 2002.
Media Contact
Joyce Faria Brennan
Phone: 508-961-5270
Pager: 508-387-9605
Fax: 508-961-5876
brennanj@southcoast.org
