Saint Joseph East first hospital in area to offer XLIF procedure to treat chronic back, leg pain

Innovative treatment to help patients in Central Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 7, 2017) – Saint Joseph East, part of KentuckyOne Health, is the first hospital in Central and Eastern Kentucky to offer the XLIF (eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion) procedure, a minimally disruptive surgical approach that helps provide relief to patients with chronic back and leg pain.

Chronic pain is a condition that affects millions of Americans each year, often a result of an injury, ongoing illness, or even no clear cause at all. According to a study from Gallup-Healthways, 31 percent of adults in the United States have a neck or back condition that causes them pain, and 26 percent suffer from a leg or knee condition.

Until recently, adults suffering from chronic back and leg pain have undergone traditional or open spine surgery, requiring weeks or months of recovery. The XLIF procedure, developed by NuVasive®, Inc., allows the surgeon to approach the spine from the side of the patient’s body, rather than the front or back. This side (lateral) approach can reduce the risk of injury to muscles, nerves and blood vessels.

“We are proud to be the first hospital in the area to offer this innovative treatment to the Lexington community,” said Dana Brundon, BSN, RN, director of Surgical and Women’s Services, Saint Joseph East. “At Saint Joseph East, we have the best technology at our fingertips, and this procedure will help provide relief from pain for many of our patients.”

The XLIF technique helps provide relief to patients who cannot tolerate traditional open back surgery due to increased risks of longer anesthesia time, greater blood loss, longer hospitalization and slower recovery.

“XLIF surgery is a less disruptive alternative for patients,” said Dr. James Rice, MD, orthopedic surgeon, Kentucky Orthopedic Associates, “Many of those patients have lived with back or leg pain through years of various failed treatments, including steroid injections, physical therapy and pain medication. This new procedure will help treat their pain, and get them in and out of the hospital more quickly.”

The XLIF procedure includes the use of NVM5®, an innovative nerve monitoring system. NVM5 provides surgeons with real-time feedback about relative nerve health, location, and function during surgery, thus reducing the incidence of nerve injury.

For more information on the XLIF procedure, visit www.kentuckyonehealth.org/spine-surgery, or call 844.303.WELL (9355) to schedule a visit with an orthopedic doctor.