HMC Accomplishes New Medical Achievement

Doha , February 08 (QNA) - A surgery team in Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) announced here on Wednesday a successful attempt for spine fracture surgery which happens to be the first of its kind in the orthopedic surgery department. The new technique named "kyphoplasty" was carried out on an aged patient suffering from a dorsal vertebra fracture in a road accident. The technique entails bracing and fixation of the12th dorsal vertebra using the "orthopedic balloon" technique. HMC consultant spinal surgeon, Dr. Abdulmoeen Baco, who led the team of surgeons said in a press conference that they had two options to deal with the case, the original traditional option which involves operating for long hours with the post-surgery stay-in hospital time ranging between one week to 10 days . Let alone, the six weeks' time the patient had to stay in bed prior to the surgery and the consequent side effects of it as chest infection, lower back bed sores. The second option, used in treating the case, was a minimally invasive technique "that requires a 1cm incision, through which a working cannula is placed through the pedicle and an orthopedic balloon is guided into the fractured vertebral body. The balloon is inflated, reducing the fracture and elevating the superior end-plate. Once the fracture has been reduced, the balloons are deflated and removed,'' Dr. Baco elaborated. Speaking of the new technique, he said it requires fewer hours and the patient can leave the hospital in a couple of days." He emphasized "The patient we operated on is in a stable condition suffering no complications." (QNA) .