Breakthrough Treatment for Neck Pain comes to Ventura County

Oxnard, CA, August 09, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Dr. Samuel Small and Dr. Brian Rudin, two surgeons with Ventura Spine, already performing lumbar artificial disc replacements, received specialized training to place the first cervical artificial disc replacement approved for use in the United States.

Patients with worn discs in their cervical spine, causing neck and/or arm pain, previously had only one option for surgical treatment. Cervical fusion has been the gold standard for this degenerative condition for decades. While the success rate is very high, patients receiving the new disc replacement have less post-operative pain, and return to work earlier.

“For some patients, disc replacement seems to be a better option.” Dr. Rudin adds that “not all patients will be candidates, but the ones that are, clearly reap the benefits.”

Medtronic’s device, named the Prestige, has been in development for two decades. It is made from stainless steel, and designed to closely mimic the motion of a normal, healthy disc. The Prestige is implanted from the same minimally invasive approach as a cervical fusion. But because there is less removal of bone, and no loss of motion, patients have an easier recovery.

While cervical spine fusion has traditionally been the treatment of choice for most degenerative conditions of the neck, this new class of devices, has allowed surgeons to avoid fusions and retain patient’s mobility. In addition, surgeons are hopeful that this non-fusion technology will prevent nearby discs from degenerating, thereby requiring additional surgery in the future.

Patients who suffer from neck and/or arm pain, due to worn out or ruptured discs are encouraged to ask their doctors about the procedure or visit www.VenturaSpine.net for more information.

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