Dear Dr. Brusovanik and Staff,

In today’s world, receiving quality medical care is hard to come by and can be a very frustrating search, at best. Finding Dr. Brusovanik, who specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, was a restoration of my faith in the medical community! His knowledge and professionalism is only surpassed by his personal interest, care and unique insight into his patient’s physical and mental challenges. He is an extremely proactive practitioner of the medical arts and his body of work, testimonialized by his peers and patients, is indicative of the care you also will receive. To make matters better, Dr. Brusovanik has surrounded himself with an amazing staff that are a true reflection of his positive vision. I’m a 33 year old, healthy, active male. Over the last couple of years I was experiencing chronic back and sciatic nerve pain due to a herniated disc in my lower back. The pain was excruciating and would not subside since my nerve was essentially pinched. Dr. Brusovanik explained to me in great detail all of my options and we agreed on a course of action to take in regards to my specific situation. Ultimately, I moved forward with surgery in December of 2013. I was never once concerned about my well being as I knew I was in great hands. Dr. Brusovanik treated me as if he were treating his brother or close family member. He followed up with me numerous times after my procedure and I also was able to contact him personally if I ever needed anything or in case of an emergency. Having that option was a very comforting feeling for me. The results speak for themselves – I followed his post-op instructions and was back to walking a few days after surgery. Fast-forward 7 months and I’m back to feeling almost 100% – working out and back to leading an active lifestyle. Each day when I wake up, I have Dr. Brusovanik to thank for being able to go about my daily routine in a normal fashion once again. Without a doubt, I would recommend Dr. Brusovanik to anyone who is experiencing issues with their back and/or neck.

Jay Passerino

Lumbar total disc replacement is an alternative to lumbar fusion surgery. Fusion is an important tool for instability of deformity; however, a more common cause of back pain is disc degeneration. In which case fusion is too aggressive. For those patients who have back pain, which is felt down into their exterminates, motion preservation with a disc replacement allows an earlier return to work and higher patient satisfaction. Also, by implementing a motion segment with a fusion surgery, stressors are transmitted to the spinal segments. This adjacent level problem is minimized with a disc replacement. For younger patients with back pain and disc degeneration, lumbar disc replacement is now the preferred method. Lumbar total disc replacement is a good testament of time and backing of research.

Back pain commonly affects the young and in the “young” group can be anyone with little or no arthritis. Its common to evaluate a 65 year old patient with disk degeneration but no facet overgrowth or osteophytes which is described as arthritis. If that patient continues to have back pain despite “conservative” care such as injections or physical therapy, the surgical options were limited. Essentially, there were only two choices: the disk can be trimmed to allow more space for the nerves or the entire disk can be removed, and the motion segment between the two vertebrae can be immobilized, via a fusion surgery. After years of development and rigorous testing, a third option has become available – motion preservation via total disk replacement. The new, replacement device, made of space age plastic and cobalt/chrome/molybdenum alloy maintains normal motion between the spinal bones and allows the surgeon to remove the entire pain generator.

A common scenario is a 30, 40 or 50 year old patient with disk degeneration. Common symptoms are back pain that is worse with standing or sitting, especially in the car. Patients complain about nerve pain that “radiates” or spreads to the hips, thighs, legs and feet. Back pain in that case is usually muscular in response to nerve compression that is felt in the direction of the compressed nerve. For example, if the L4-5 or the L5-S1 disk is damaged, the patient may feel pain in the direction of the L5 nerve root which would be down the thighs, and possibly all the way to the top of the foot.

In some cases, patients even develop numbness and weakness of the legs and difficulty walking. With the new devices, the expectation is to wake up from surgery and immediately note that the old pain is gone. The minimally invasive technique spares a lot of surgical pain; and patients do not usually require physical therapy, restrictions or precautions. Return to work is within 3 to 4 weeks; patients can be back to the gym within 2 to 3 weeks and driving is resumed the same week as surgery. There are risks to this surgery just like any other surgery and it’s important to discuss those risks with your surgeon.

Lumbar disk replacement is a surgical procedure that involves removing a damaged or degenerated intervertebral disk in the lower back and replacing it with an artificial disk. This procedure is typically performed to alleviate chronic lower back pain and improve mobility in individuals with disk-related conditions such as degenerative disk disease or herniated disks.
One of the primary benefits of lumbar disk replacement is the potential for significant pain relief. Intervertebral disks play a crucial role in providing shock absorption and support for the spine, and when they become damaged or degenerated, they can cause chronic pain and discomfort. By replacing a damaged disk with an artificial one, lumbar disk replacement can help to alleviate this pain and improve a person’s quality of life.

Another benefit of lumbar disk replacement is the potential for improved mobility and function. When intervertebral disks become damaged, they can cause the spine to become unstable and lead to reduced mobility. By replacing a damaged disk with an artificial one, lumbar disk replacement can help to restore stability to the spine and improve a person’s ability to move and perform everyday activities.

However, like all surgical procedures, lumbar disk replacement also carries certain risks and potential complications. Some of the risks associated with this procedure include infection, nerve damage, and the possibility of the artificial disk failing or dislodging. In some cases, individuals may experience ongoing pain or discomfort even after the procedure, and in rare cases, the procedure may need to be repeated.

Overall, while lumbar disk replacement can offer significant benefits in terms of pain relief and improved mobility, it is important for individuals to carefully weigh the potential risks and potential complications before undergoing the procedure. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare provider and carefully consider all available treatment options before deciding on a course of action.

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