Aug 8, 2008 6:50 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Stem Cells Help Spinal Fusion
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Typically spinal fusion surgery is painful, and comes with a long recovery – but now there's a high-tech alternative.
CBS
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic back pain, and for some a procedure called "spinal fusion" is the only hope.
Typically the surgery is painful, and comes with a long recovery – but now there's a high-tech alternative.
Something as simple as vacuuming is too difficult for Leslie Mignona because of chronic back pain.
"I'm not looking to be a gymnast, but I'm looking to be more active in my life," Mignona said.
She decided on spinal fusion, which helps reduce nerve pain by stabilizing the spine.
But instead of the traditional approach, she opted for a new procedure using adult stem cells to fuse her spine together.
"I think it's extremely exciting," orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kam Momi said.
Momi said stem cells offer an alternative to traditional spine fusions, which are done using a patient's own bone.
"What we did was make a separate incision at the pelvis, scrape out bone from the inside of the pelvis, and pack that into the spine where we wanted it to go," Momi said.
With the new stem cell procedure, disc space is filled with a material called "Trinity." Trinity is a mixture of donated adult stem cells combined with crushed bone from a bone bank.
Once the material is in the spine, the cells go to work.
"They genetically turn on the switches to make bone cells, and eventually the bones fuse together," Momi said.
Recovery time is fast, lasting only about three months, compared to the year-long recovery associated with traditional fusions.
"Because you don't have to scrape out the bone and you don't have an extra incision, the infection rate is a lot less," Momi said. "Generally speaking, these patients get on their feet faster."
Dana Harned tried everything before she turned to the stem cell fusion. Now, after surgery, she's relieved.
"I feel so much better," Harned said. "It's just…there's no way I could have gone without it."
The Trinity stem cell product is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The procedure has risks, just like traditional spinal fusion surgery. Medications and physical therapy should always be considered first.
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