Scoliosis is a painful debilitating condition of the spine that affects more than 20 million people in the United States. Treatment of scoliosis of the spine ranges from observation, to physical therapy, to bracing and in the most advanced cases, anterior or posterior spinal fusion surgery. Surgery is recommended if the progression of the disease is more than 40-50 degrees. Spinal fusion is the most common type of scoliosis surgery performed. This surgical treatment for scoliosis involves placing grafted bone in the vertebral column so that the column becomes fused. Plotting for this surgery involved the surgical professional reviewing X-rays to determine a plot of care.
Imagine if this plot of care could be developed using an anatomical model of your accurate spine, with the exact curve. Imagine if a surgeon was able to practice their technique on this three-dimensional model and have the advantage of a test run prior to ever cutting your skin. This technology is no longer a dream it is real. Today surgeons have the ability to use Anatomically Right Reference Models (ACRM) in their plotting process.
These models not only increase the efficiency of surgeries they can really decrease the surgery time. A decrease in surgical time means a savings to you as the patient. The cost of the ACRM will more than pay for itself with the decrease in surgery time and operating expenses. An ACRM typically averages between $500 to $1000. In fact the use of a 3D model has been shown to reduce surgery time by an average of 7-10%. With the cost of orthopedic surgeries (including the hospital, anesthesiologist, orthopedic surgical professional, nursing staff and equipment) averaging $19,000 per hour with an average surgery time of 7-10 hours, the patient is looking at a net savings in excess of $11,000. In addition, the shorter surgery time means a quicker recovery for the patient and a decrease in the mortality rates associated with these surgeries.
Scoliosis treatment is complicated and expensive. When looking at the ranges of therapy if you find yourself leaning toward a surgical intervention for your scoliosis wouldn’t you want your surgical professional to have every available technology in plotting your care? It makes sense to give our physicians every advance possible. In our quest to provide better healthcare, we need better methodology.
The use of anatomical right reference models is fantastic improvement in the care and management of scoliosis.
[I:http://www.dexop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/JeffreyArnold6.jpg' alt=''>ACRM Corp is pioneering the development and sales of patient specific, Anatomically Right, 3D Reference Models, from CT and MRI scans to help with skull or spine surgeries. Visit their website (www.ACRMcorp.com) for more information about how these 3D models can help your orthopaedic physician in their pre-surgical plotting.
Tags: 3D models, craniosynostosis, Health, Health, kyphosis, kyphosis surgery, medical, orthopaedic surgery, scoliosis, scoliosis surgery, scoliosis treatment, skull surgery, spine, spine surgery, surgery
