Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Now Performed at Abbott Northwestern Hospital

The Twin Cities Spine Center is found online at
www. We can introduce them
only once their efficacy and safety can be scientifically proven. today to educate government
officials about the serious physical and emotional impact of psoriasis and
psoriatic arthritis. Annually, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) spends less than $1 per patient on research for the
more than five million women and men in the U. Moreover, about 10-30 percent
of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, a condition that
commonly causes pain and inflammation in and around the joints in addition to
psoriasis.

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The center is also a leading research and
educational institution focused on the cervical, thoracic and lumbar
spine.
With 28,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
( http://www.

fibromyalgia joint

Innovative Treatments May Get Patients Back on Their Feet Sooner

WASHINGTON, New technologies may offer new
treatment options for some patients with degenerative back problems, according
to research presented and discussed today at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
One of these treatments is disc replacement , in which the injured disc is
removed and replaced with an artificial device. McAfee, MD, an
orthopaedic surgeon at the Scoliosis and Spine Center in Towson, Md. "Back injuries can be debilitating, so it's great to know that there
may be even better ways for us to help those patients," said Dr. Zimmerman , President and CEO of the National
Psoriasis Foundation.
With nearly 60 volunteers with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis in
attendance, Capitol Hill Day provides an opportunity for patients to speak out
about their conditions on behalf of the five million women and men living with
psoriatic diseases.

amputee dwarfism

McAfee's study on the Charite disc found that patients who received
that type of disc replacement had an 82. "The proclamation of August as Psoriasis Awareness
Month will be a significant milestone in our fight to raise the visibility of
psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in order ultimately to secure greater
federal funding for research.

joint conditions

"Minimally invasive techniques are becoming a gold standard for
the management of many conditions requiring surgical intervention,"
said James Schwender , MD, spine surgeon and member of the Twin Cities
Spine Center. Also, if you need to fuse multiple vertebrae, recovery time
and the chance of complications increase. Additionally, more than
one -third (total of both conditions) of those not working reported they were
not working in whole or in part because of their disease.

anomalies support

Centocor is a leading biotechnology company dedicated to advancing
dermatologic research and science through the development of novel therapies
for the treatment of psoriatic diseases.

back tissue

During the procedure,
surgeons use specialized equipment to create and maintain openings to
the spinal elements, allowing them to perform spinal surgeries without
cutting or removing muscle from the spine. "The interoperative CT scan can help with placement of spinal
screws when the anatomy is difficult."
While some of the research on these emerging technologies is preliminary,
these innovations do show great promise, said Jeffrey C.

back fibromyalgia

"
An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician with extensive training in the
diagnosis and non-surgical as well as surgical treatment of the
musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles
and nerves . The
National Psoriasis Foundation also will seek legislative sponsorship for a
bill declaring the month of August Psoriasis Awareness Month.
According to 2004 surveys of more than 1000 people with psoriasis and/or
psoriatic arthritis, approximately half of the respondents reported strong
feelings of anger, helplessness, self-consciousness and embarrassment due to
their disease, and less than 20 percent of patients with these diseases
reported high satisfaction with their treatments .

health tissue

Paul C.
"Spinal fusion is still the best option for some patients, but studies
show that in some cases, the screws are not ideally placed," said Courtney W."
The National Psoriasis Foundation is calling upon government officials to
increase funding to support research that will lead to better understanding of
the mechanism of these diseases and, ultimately, to a cure.R.723.

dwarfism back

Brown, MD, assistant clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at the
University of Colorado and an orthopaedic surgeon at Panorama Orthopedics in
Golden, Colo., Members of the National Psoriasis
Foundation will convene in Washington, D.org.

anomalies dwarfism

McAfee said. Through this
better understanding, next-generation therapies may be discovered that will
offer hope for the many psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients still
searching for a treatment that works for them.
for their support of awareness efforts in conjunction with Capitol Hill Day.

dwarfism joints

But with disc replacement, you don't
have those problems.5 percent increase in their flexion
and range of motion two years after surgery, compared to a decreased range of
motion for all patients who received spinal fusions; the Charite patients also
had significantly better restoration of disc height. Some patients were able to have the surgery on an
outpatient basis , and 87 percent of working patients were able to return to
their jobs within six weeks after surgery .org ) is a not-for-profit
organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons , allied
health professionals, and the public.
"Importantly, research must continue because the goal is to find a cure for
the millions of women and men whose quality of life is affected by these
devastating diseases. This groundbreaking legislation,
sponsored by Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and
Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA-14) and Charles "Chip" Pickering (R-MS-3),
would implement a national arthritis action plan to enhance federal- and
state-level support for public health activities. This would ensure that more
people are diagnosed early and avoid pain and permanent disability. Our mission is to educate people about these diseases and their
treatments, raise public awareness and support ongoing research toward a cure.
The organization is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

congenital clubfoot

More than 150,000 lumbar
spinal fusions are performed each year to treat common spinal
conditions such as degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis, or
misaligned vertebrae.
"People with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis often experience physical
and emotional challenges as a result of their symptoms," said Mark Lebwohl,
MD, Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Mt. 424/H.

About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is a patient-driven nonprofit
organization working to improve the quality of life of the more than 5 million
Americans diagnosed with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis and their
families .

arthritis joint

"The indications for this type of spine surgery remain
the same and our preliminary clinical results suggest that minimally
invasive techniques will have a beneficial impact on the care of
certain patients with spinal disorders.com
Minneapolis-based Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina
Hospitals + Clinics, a non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and
other health care services . These latest innovations in spinal
surgery could provide promise for hundreds of thousands of U . In recent years, however, new treatments
have been developed that may offer some patients less post -operative pain,
fewer complications and a faster, more complete recovery.org ) the global initiative in the years 2002-2011 to raise
awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research, and improve people's
quality of life. The surveys, conducted by
the National Psoriasis Foundation, also revealed that more than one-quarter of
respondents without a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis have experienced joint
pain or stiffness lasting more than three months. Sinai School of Medicine.9166 or visit
http: //www.

health fibromyalgia

abbottnorthwestern.
"The great thing about disc replacements is that they allow us to preserve
the motion in the patient's spine," Dr. "Treatments like spinal
fusion immobilize part of the spine, which causes stress on the adjacent
levels of motion.
While initial indications of the Charite disc appear promising, the device
was just recently granted FDA approval in October 2004 .
Looking beyond disc replacement, there are other emerging treatments and
technologies on the horizon for those suffering from back and spinal problems. Wang, MD, chief of
orthopaedic spine service and associate professor of orthopaedic and
neurosurgery at UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center at the UCLA School of
Medicine. President Bush has declared the years 2002-2011 National Bone
and Joint Decade in support of these objectives. People with psoriasis often
experience painful, red , scaly lesions, which may crack and bleed,
significantly impacting their quality of life.

connective lupus

"
Potential advantages of the minimally invasive technique include
minimized soft tissue trauma, blood loss, hospital stays and the
potential for earlier return to function.
While the initial and often adequate standard treatment for degenerative
spinal disorders -- such as slipped discs or compression fractures of the
vertebrae -- is non-operative care, certain patients may require surgery
ranging from spinal fusion, injection of cement into the weakened vertebrae
(percutaneous vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty), or the placement of screws and
metal plates to stabilize the spine. Hence, further long-
term study and data are required for orthopaedic surgeons to definitively
determine patient results from this new procedure compared to traditional bone
fusion.usbjd.

foot anomalies

From his study on porous
coated motion discs used in the cervical region, Dr. For more information,
please call the Psoriasis Foundation at 800.

diseases joint

patients who
undergo spinal surgery each year. The only major drawbacks are that it is
technically demanding and expensive. Wang.

C.
"We are asking Congress to respond to the many patients who seek increased
public understanding of their disease and greater access to effective
treatments," said Gail M.
The National Psoriasis Foundation gratefully acknowledges Centocor, Inc.

conditions dwarfism

tcspine.

Emerging Technologies in Spinal Surgery

583) - an act recently introduced in
conjunction with the Arthritis Foundation.

joint spine

Low back pain can be caused by a number
of factors including a protruding disc, age, osteoporosis and
fractures or low back sprain or strain.S. An advocate for improved patient care,
the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade
( http://www.-- Second Annual Capitol Hill Day Focuses on Increasing Federal Commitment to
Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Education, Research and Funding --

PORTLAND, Ore .
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are chronic, immune-mediated
inflammatory diseases that result from faulty signals in the immune system,
including the overproduction of certain proteins .psoriasis.

joint amputee

McAfee learned that not
only is this procedure less invasive than fusion procedures, but the recovery
time is much shorter.

National Psoriasis Foundation Rallies in Washington to Gain Legislative Support for the Five Million Adults With Psoriatic Diseases

arthritis conditions

Business Editors/Health Editors

MINNEAPOLIS----Surgeons from the Twin
Cities Spine Center at Abbott Northwestern Hospital are able to offer
certain patients requiring spine surgery a minimally invasive option
that may reduce pain and offer the patient a quicker recovery time.
The Twin Cities Spine Center is an internationally distinguished
medical practice dedicated to the comprehensive management of spinal
diseases and disorders.com

"
Dr. The Academy's Annual Meeting
is being held February 23-27, 2005, at the Washington Convention Center in
Washington, DC."
The National Psoriasis Foundation will also employ Capitol Hill Day as an
opportunity to reinforce support for the "Arthritis Prevention , Control and
Cure Act of 2005" (S.

foot arthritis

, led two
studies on disc replacements: one on replacements in the lumbar (lower back)
region using recently FDA-approved Charite disc, and one on those in the
cervical (neck) region. Patients and their families will meet with members of
the House and Senate to encourage increased funding for research and the
support of new legislation designed to improve care for people with these
conditions.

musculoskeletal support

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons , more
than 30 million visits were made to physician offices in 2002 because
of back problems and eight out of 10 people will experience back pain
at some point in their lives. It's not right for every patient, but if you follow the
clinical indications, it can be an excellent option.orthoinfo .S. with psoriatic diseases.

dwarfism musculoskeletal

Abbott Northwestern is found online at
www.
These include biological disc regeneration and computer-assisted and image-
guidance technology such as surgical navigation , where a surgeon uses an
intraoperative CT scan to assist in the placement of screws and other devices
when performing spinal fusion.
"However, we have to ensure that we don't circumvent the research process
because everyone's excited about these new treatments.