News & Media
October,
2007
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FATIMA NEUROSURGEON FIRST IN NEW ENGLAND TO
PERFORM CERVICAL DISK REPLACEMENT
Dr.
Stephen Saris, chief of the division of neurosurgery
at Fatima Hospital, recently became the first
surgeon in New England to implant the newly approved
PRESTIGE cervical arthroplasty, a radical new
approach to treatment of herniated disks.
The PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc (manufactured
by Medtronic, Inc.), is a stainless steel surgical
implant used to treat patients suffering from
degenerated or herniated disks of the neck. Prior
to its development,
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fusion was the only option to replace a disk after its
removal. However, for the 200,000 Americans each year
who undergo a fusion, there is diminished motion and accelerated
degeneration of the disks above and below.
Medtronic's patented design allows for a variable center
of rotation, meaning the disc is designed to better
reproduce the motion of a naturally functioning cervical
spine.
"This procedure underscores the ability of the
Fatima Neurosurgery Department stay current with, if
not lead the way, with surgical innovations that improve
the quality of life for people", stated Dr. Saris.
"When we remove a worn out or herniated disk from
the neck, we can now give patients a new one."
The Medtronic disc was approved by the FDA after reviewing
data from the largest clinical trial to date involving
the cervical spine. Patients in the study showed superior
overall success in areas such as range of neck motion,
pain, and early return to normal activity. The PRESTIGE
Disc is the first artificial disk approved by the FDA
for use in the U.S.
Dr. Saris has been Chief of Neurosurgery since 1999
and has been practicing in Rhode Island for more than
15 years. A graduate of Boston University Medical School,
Dr. Saris completed his residency at Duke Medical Center
and fellowships in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General
Hospital and the National Institutes of Health.
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