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Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in Florida to debut a new spinal surgery procedure that does away with the need for numerous xrays throughout the surgery and reduces the time the patient is under anesthesia.
The new procedure, which uses a camera that is linked to a computer screen that highlights the area, makes it easier for the physician to install any implants or fix an injury.
"It is like GPS for spinal surgery,'' said orthopedic surgeon Geoffrey Stewart, M.D. "The image guided technology helps map out the area where the surgery will be performed and it eliminates the need for taking x-rays throughout the procedure which reduces the amount of radiation the patient receives.''
Dr. Stewart said he also likes how the new procedure helps reduce the amount of time the patient is in the operating room. He said the streamlined surgery can get patients in and out quicker.
"It really does help with the flow in the operating room,'' Dr. Stewart said. "Not having a patient under anesthesia as long and not having the added time of constantly taking numerous traditional x-rays of the patients is more efficient.''
Dr. Stewart has already performed several of the procedures at Heart of Florida and is happy to report that his patients are pleased with the results.
Ann Barnhart, CEO of Heart of Florida, said she is thrilled to be able to offer this new technology at the hospital.
"Patients no longer have to travel to another state to have this procedure done. They can come here and have it done and not have to worry about the logistics or hassle of going someplace else to have their spinal surgery,'' Barnhart said. "We are excited to be able to continue bringing cutting edge technology to our patients.''
For more information on the new surgical procedure, please visit our web site at HeartOfFlorida.com.
