Neurosurgical Advancements
with Reginald Davis, MD
What are some specific advancements?
“In general terms, neurosurgery is used to treat disorders and diseases of the brain, head, neck, spine and central nervous system,” says Reginald Davis, MD, Division Head, Neurosurgery at GBMC. Treatment options include minimally invasive procedures such as endoscopic and computer-assisted surgery whenever possible.
Neurosurgeons may also help develop non-surgical treatment plans, depending on the specific case. “With the latest techniques, some disorders may not require surgery,” says Dr. Davis. “Non-surgical options include pain management through the use of physical therapy, medication, acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic care.”
Neurosurgeons at GBMC develop individualized treatment plans for patients with conditions affecting the brain and head including tumors, aneurysms, head injuries, head and neck cancer, blood clots, swelling of the brain and stroke complications. They also treat a wide range of conditions of the back and spine, such as arthritis, cancer, degenerated discs, herniated discs, fractures, pinched nerves, nerve compression, spinal stenosis and spinal cord injuries.
“Neurosurgery technology is constantly evolving. We are moving toward an emphasis on motion and anatomy preservation,” says Dr. Davis. GBMC is at the forefront of this movement and is involved in clinical trials to help evaluate microscopic techniques, new materials and other emerging technology. Below, Dr. Davis describes some of the recent neurosurgical advancements:
Bone graft substitutions help eliminate the pain of grafting a bone from the patient’s own hip. Instead, surgeons use substitute materials such as bone from a donor or artificial substances to complete a spinal fusion between two vertebrae and relieve back pain.
Computer-assisted spine and head surgery is a minimally invasive approach that uses CT or MRI scans to provide 3-D and cross-sectional views of the injured area. Using technology known as the Stealth System, this procedure reduces surgical trauma and decreases operating time.
Disc prosthesis is an alternative to spinal fusion. It uses an artificial disc to replace the diseased disc while restoring mobility and eliminating pain.
Micro-endoscopic discectomy is used to treat herniated discs. It relieves pressure on the nerve root by removing loose fragments and disc materials through a very small incision, guided by a microscopic view of the spine. Microscopic discectomy may also be performed from the front of the patient, instead of the back, which helps avoid trauma to the large muscles of the back.
Neuroradiology is less invasive than traditional surgery. It combines radiology, catheters and microsurgery to treat a variety of conditions including aneurysms and tumors.
Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure used to relieve the pain of compression fractures. It uses an injected orthopedic “cement” to repair the vertebral body.
When treating neurological conditions, GBMC neurosurgeons remain committed to meeting all of their patients’ needs, says Dr. Davis. “In addition to all of our technical advancements, we maintain a humanistic component by providing good old-fashioned hand-holding for our patients and their families.”
