CHI - St. Joseph's Health - MN

However, Brad's condition had become so life-limiting, prompt treatment was the only hope to correct the problem. Dr. Smith, Brad, and Brad's family decided to move ahead, and the surgery was scheduled for December 20. The procedure took more than five hours to complete. To repair Brad's spine, Dr. Smith had to decompress the thecal sac, which holds the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord; remove overgrown ligaments compressing the thecal sac; and fuse discs L2 through L5, located in the low back. "Spondylolisthesis—in which one vertebra of the spine moves forward or backward over another [in this case, forward]—was causing Brad's spine to shift, making it unstable," Dr. Smith says. "This condition is a mechanical problem that requires a mechanical solution: placing spacers where the injured discs are." Dr. Smith credits technological advancements for making this task possible. "Fortunately, the technology for spinal fusions has greatly advanced in recent years," Dr. Smith says. "Spacers are now much smaller than they previously were, allowing for easier insertion and much better tension. In essence, you're creating an anterior tension band with the spacers, and then by inserting a rod and screws, you're kind of making a posterior tension band. This creates a lot more tension to help stabilize the spine than was previously possible." SPINE SURGERY SUCCESS STORY Despite the severity of his condition—and the complexity and difficulty of the surgery—Brad was able to go home after just two days in the hospital. "We usually expect patients to remain in the hospital for three to five days after undergoing such a procedure, but Brad is in great shape—he walks a lot for his job—which helped him recover much sooner than most," Dr. Smith says. In two short weeks, Brad was able to quit taking narcotic pain medication and instead took over-the-counter acetaminophen for a few weeks before completely coming off all medications. "Three weeks after my surgery, I was medication-free and able to drive and walk without assistance from a walker," Brad says. "Dr. Brennen Smith is the real hero in all this—he was absolutely amazing," Brad says. "After so many years of terrible pain, I am finally able to get back to living the life I love." Full recovery from a spinal fusion like Brad's takes between 12 and 18 months. Brad has seen Dr. Smith twice since his surgery (one month and three months post surgery) and is well on his way to a full recovery. "Brad has had a remarkable outcome," Dr. Smith says. "The follow-up imaging shows my new hardware is still perfectly placed," Brad says. "I feel great. I'm driving and going everywhere I want, and I'm already back to work." To learn more about orthopedics and spine surgery available at CHI St. Joseph's Health, call 218.616.3700. "When undergoing spine surgery, it's important to have a good relationship with your surgeon and to be in a facility you can trust. CHI St. Joseph's Health is unique—we're a critical access hospital, but we are able to offer complex bariatric and spine surgeries—and we're very fortunate to have such a great facility." —BRENNEN SMITH, DO, AOBOS, BOARD-CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, CHI ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH www.CHISJH.org | CHI St. Joseph's Health 7

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