Innovative Spine Procedure at San Ramon Regional Medical Center Is Game Changer for Young Athletes with Back Injuries
San Ramon Regional Medical Center in California is proud to announce that recent surgeries, using an innovative, minimally-invasive technique, are helping young athletes pursue their dreams by lowering the long-term risk of spinal fusion surgery. This innovative spine repair procedure is the first of its kind in the San Francisco Bay area.
Spinal pars fractures (commonly called “stress” fractures) can derail athletic pursuits and potentially lead to a lifetime of back pain starting in adolescence. In fact, some adolescents – typically young athletes – may have these undetected stress fractures that can progress into an actual break, called spondylolysis. In those cases, the spinal disc can slip forward, often called a “slipped disc.”
The first fellowship-trained endoscopic spine surgeon in the U.S., Dr. Saqib Hasan, successfully performed the new technique of Endoscopic Pars Fracture Repair on several young athletes within the past six months.
“It is a big step forward from more traditional, open spine surgery that typically involves significant cutting and dissecting of the back muscles,” said Dr. Hasan. “I can safely and accurately accomplish complex surgical tasks with incisions that are only the size of a number two pencil.”
Unlike traditional surgeries, this minimally invasive approach uses an endoscope, which is a small camera and surgical instrument system that requires only tiny incisions. Dr. Hasan was able to perform the spinal fracture repair, bone grafting and screw placement using endoscopic and computer-based navigation technologies. The results have shown faster recovery, less pain, and a quicker return to activity, including sports.
This innovative spine repair procedure is the latest in technology at San Ramon Regional, which was the first hospital in the U.S. to acquire the da Vinci robotic surgical system, and where the world’s first voice-activated robotic surgery was performed.
About San Ramon Regional Medical Center
San Ramon Regional Medical Center is a 123-bed acute care hospital known for providing comprehensive inpatient, outpatient and emergency care. San Ramon Regional Medical Center provides award-winning heart care programs, joint and spine surgery programs including advanced and minimally-invasive surgical treatments and a Level II Special Care Nursery. To learn more about San Ramon Regional Medical Center, please visit www.OurSanRamonHospital.com.