Gone are the days where patients follow the doctor’s orders unquestionably. The internet has enabled patients to explore the myriad of surgical options available to them. Before an internet savvy patient goes under the knife, you can be certain that he will research the procedure, and probably come to the conclusion that minimally invasive surgery is his best bet.

With patient requests for minimally invasive procedures increasing, surgeons have developed their skills to fit this demand. While minimally invasive spine surgery has become commonplace, Orthopedists performing hip replacements are often reluctant to perform the procedure using the minimally invasive approach. People undergoing hip replacement surgery often have difficulty finding surgeons who are willing to perform this challenging technique.

Minimally Invasive Hip surgery offers the same benefits as does other minimally invasive procedures—a shorter hospital stay, decreased tissue trauma, smaller incision, and expedited patient recovery. Yet only 3-5% of hip replacement surgeries are minimally invasive, despite the demand for it. Performing minimally invasive hip replacement surgery requires that the surgeon operate via the anterior approach. Previously, this method has required the use of expensive fracture tables and the use of multiple surgical assistants. Many hospitals do not have the resources needed to purchase, store, maintain and operate these fracture tables, and many surgeons do not care to operate with numerous people in the OR. Unfortunately for the patients, the difficulties associated with minimally invasive anterior hip replacements has discouraged many surgeons from offering this technique.

Dr. Lawrence Menendez and Dr. Daniel Allison, orthopedic surgeons from USC recognized this disparity between supply and demand, and saw an opportunity give all orthopedic surgeons the ability to operate via the minimally invasive, anterior approach.

Dr. Allison shared,

“We wanted to create a system that could place the anterior approach to hip replacement into the hands of any orthopedic surgeon, minimizing trauma to the patient’s soft tissues and bone, while taking away the need for any surgical assistants.”

Menendez and Allison teamed with TeDan Surgical to bring their idea of an easy-to-use, minimally invasive hip retractor to fruition. Using a system of flexible arms and attachable retractors, the Phantom MIS Anterior Hip Retractor System completely eliminates the need for a fracture table or surgical assistant. Surgeons are able to operate on a standard  OR table independently.

Contact TeDan Surgical Innovations to learn how to get the Phantom Series Minimally Invasive Hip Retractor System into your hands.

Read the press release here

Let’s face it–since their brief Super Bowl playoff streak (yes, they lost every time) in the nineties , the Buffalo Bills have played abysmally: brief moments of success followed by week after week of annihilation on the field. 

The 2011 season offered a glimmer of hope.  Throughout September and October, Buffalo triumphed—a playoff bid seemed possible, fans ecstatic.  Yet this turn of fortune did not last.  The tide turned for the worse in November.  Losses quickly began to outnumber the wins, and the cheers of jubilant fans were quieted.

With the 2011 season over, Buffalo looks ahead to 2012 and, perhaps, a pain-free team.  Buffalo defensive lineman, Torell Troup, announced in December that he will undergo spine surgery in order to repair a “minor fracture”  and rectify a previous disc problem.   Throughout the season Troup suited up and blocked passes while experiencing a significant amount of pain that increased as the season progressed.

Troup’s surgery was  performed in time to have him ready to attend preseason camps.  Prior to surgery, Troupposted on his Twitter account, “I’m ready to get this over so I can be the player I was in the preseason. Will feel good to not be in pain everyday.”    Bills coach Chan Gail is confident that Troup will be ready to suit up for training next spring. 

“Yeah, this is one time I did talk to the doctors, I just happened to be in there when the doctor was there and he explained to me the [spine] surgery and thinks that he’ll be full go by May,” said Gailey.

Could a healthy Troup help the Buffalo Bills achieve the impossible—a chance at the Championship Ring?  It could be that spine surgery will give Buffalo something  to cheer about in the cold winter months of 2012.

With the 2011 season over, Buffalo looks ahead to 2012 and, perhaps, a pain-free team.  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16431803/bills-troup-to-have-back-surgery-friday

In the past decade, surgeons have touted the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. Minimally Invasive surgeries expedite patient recovery, decrease the length of hospital stays, and reduce the risk for post-operative infections. Surgery is never fun, but opting to go the minimally invasive route can make it less bad.

Now, our beloved pets can also reap the benefits of our scientific advancements. Pets in 2012 live a life of luxury– sweaters, organic dog food, rhinestone collars, and down dog beds. Why not offer our furry friends the best in surgical care?

The University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine has done just that. A designated minimally invasive suite at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital ensures that our companion pets receive the very best in operative care. The suite bears striking resemblance to a hospital OR—fully decked out with fluoroscopes, surgical cameras, and audio/visual equipment that can broadcast procedures in real time.

“We are proud to be leading the charge in these specialized procedures,” said Lillian R. Aronson, VMD, chief of surgery at Ryan Hospital. “Not only will the tools and equipment in this amazing facility allow us to better prepare the next generation of vets with these specialized skills, we will now be capable of providing our clients an option for less-invasive, less painful surgeries for their pets.”

So remember—if your pet needs surgery, opt for minimally invasive and Sparky will be back chasing postmen in no time.

See the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital Press release here

Minimally Invasive procedures expedite patient recovery time, decrease the length of hospital stays, and reduce the risk of post-operative infections.   Knowing all of this, why would surgeons opt for the more intrusive open procedures? The answer is simple:  visualization.

Undoubtedly, the chief concern that surgeons have when choosing to operate through a small incision is the difficulty seeing and accessing the surgical site.  During minimally invasive procedures, spine surgeons are confined to the 13-26mm diameter of the dilators. TeDan Surgical, realizing the advantages and drawbacks to the minimally invasive technique, have created a retractor that bridges the visualization gap between minimally invasive and open procedures. Our retractors do one thing our competitors don’t– they pivot.

Once retractor blades have been inserted into the wound site, the TSI pivoting retractor can tow each blade outwards up to 30°, retracting tissue and muscle closest to the wound site without enlarging the incision.  This patented technique optimizes visualization by creating a wider field of vision for the surgeon, yet never increasing the size of the 13-26mm incision.

TSI recognizes the patient benefits of minimally invasive procedures—but understands that if surgeons can’t see, they can’t operate.  So we invented a retractor that pivots, giving surgeons an additional 60° on which to operate.  Experience the difference.  Experience Innovation.