Allegheny Health Network’s Wexford Hospital Performs Its First Minimally Invasive Outpatient Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Press Releases wexford-hospital

Wexford, PA - Allegheny Health Network (AHN) today announced the expansion of its minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion capabilities to AHN Wexford Hospital, marking the hospital's most recent milestone in providing the highest level of spinal surgical care to patients living north of Pittsburgh.

AHN Wexford's first outpatient minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion procedure was performed in September by spine surgeon Ryan Sauber, MD. The program expansion is part of AHN's commitment to advancing innovative spinal surgery options across its footprint, prioritizing minimal disruption, reduced recovery time, and high-quality outcomes for patients suffering from severe back and nerve pain.

The patient, Robert Gibson, a 72-year-old former heavy highway carpenter from Scott Township, had endured chronic leg pain radiating from his knee to his foot, affecting his quality of life. Following a diagnosis of spinal stenosis, he opted for minimally invasive outpatient lumbar spinal fusion surgery with Dr. Sauber at Wexford Hospital.

Unlike traditional fusion surgeries that typically require several days of hospital recovery, Dr. Sauber's advanced approach, featuring the use of Medtronic's MAZOR^TM robotic guidance system, allowed Gibson to return home the same day as his procedure.

"This minimally invasive lumbar fusion procedure represents an important step forward for our spine surgery program," said Dr. Sauber. "Using the MAZOR^TM robot, we can precisely place screws and rods to stabilize the spine with minimal disruption to surrounding muscles and tissues, resulting in a shorter hospital stay and a quicker return to daily activities."

AHN Wexford and Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) are the only two locations within the network to have a MAZOR^TM robotic guidance system. This robotic system supports highly precise spinal drilling and screw placement, helping reduce post-operative pain and the need for extended hospitalization.

After Gibson's surgery, he reported a substantial improvement in his quality of life, including significant pain reduction and improved sleep.

"I was taking 15 pain pills just to get through the day," said Gibson. "Once I had the procedure and got off all the pain medications, I'm back to normal. Now, I'm sleeping well. Before, I'd be lucky if I could get four hours of sleep at night. Following the procedure, I'm up to six and a half hours each night."

This procedure represents the latest achievement in AHN Wexford Hospital's spine surgery program. Earlier this year, AHN announced the expansion of its minimally invasive spinal surgery program at Wexford Hospital.

Wexford Hospital's endoscopic spine surgery program, which launched in May, utilizes the latest generation of spinal-endoscope technology, manufactured by Arthrex. The new Arthrex Endoscopic Spine system employs state-of-the-art camera imaging to provide ultra-high-definition video from within the spinal canal during spinal decompression surgery.

"As a regional leader in spine care, our program is focused on helping patients achieve faster relief and recovery from pain using top-tier, minimally invasive surgical techniques," said Allan Klapper, MD, president, AHN Wexford Hospital. "Mr. Gibson's story exemplifies the power of innovative treatments combined with expert care."

Located north of Pittsburgh in Pine Township, AHN Wexford Hospital opened to patients in September 2021. AHN Wexford received an 'A' grade in The Leapfrog Group's spring 2024 Hospital Safety Grades report and an award from Press Ganey earlier this year for top performance in patient experience.

For more information about AHN's orthopaedic and spine care services, visit AHN.org.