Henry Spinelli, M.D., Renowned New York Plastic Surgeon Works Wonders On Bronx Boy With Neurofibromatosis

Fourteen-year old David Lazano from The Bronx, New York, is making significant progress after recently undergoing life transforming surgery for removal of a disfiguring tumor on the right side of his head and for re-alignment of his right ear which, prior to the surgery, was horizontal and located on the top of his jaw. David suffers from the genetic condition Neurofibromatosis (NF) which is also known as Elephant Mans Disease.

(PRWEB) March 16, 2004 --Fourteen-year old David Lazano from The Bronx, New York, is making significant progress after recently undergoing life transforming surgery for removal of a disfiguring tumor on the right side of his head and for re-alignment of his right ear which, prior to the surgery, was horizontal and located on the top of his jaw. David suffers from the genetic condition Neurofibromatosis (NF) which is also known as Elephant Mans Disease.

David, who is in the ninth grade at John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx, was being seen medically at The New York Presbyterian Hospital and was referred to nationally renowned plastic surgeon Henry M. Spinelli, M.D. Davids mother, Haydee Texidor, said after Davids recent surgery in February, Dr. Spinelli 'worked wonders on my son. Its amazing that Davids appearance has now changed so dramatically and equally important his personality has changed as well."

When I first met David," said Dr. Spinelli, he did not speak, smile or laugh, and he could not look me or my staff in the eye. I saw a young man who was deeply troubled. His mother explained how he was self-conscious at school and felt like his peers were ostracizing him. I got the feeling that David was rapidly becoming a pariah. His right head and face were distorted by the plexiform tumors, a characteristic feature of his disease. His right ear lay almost horizontally and at the level of his jaw and his lower eyelid was pulled down and away from his eye. From a medical standpoint the location of his tumor presented problems for surgical removal. The regions of the head and face, along with the extent of his disease, encompassed vital nerves and blood vessels important to his function, including those which control facial movement. Damage to these structures could lead to permanent facial paralysis and such things as an inability to close and protect his eyes or to loss of lip movement resulting in drooling and an inability to smile."

It was clear that Davids family had limited financial resources, and since his medical condition was so dramatic and untenable for him," said Dr. Spinelli, I chose to donate my services entirely."

We operated on David in early February at Cornell with the assistance of anesthesiologists, nurses and my craniofacial team," stated Dr. Spinelli. I was extremely pleased with the surgical procedure. David recovered in the pediatric ICU and was discharged home after only two days."

On Davids first post operative visit, approximately one week after his procedure, it was clear we had hit a homerun!," said Dr. Spinelli. Both his appearance and facial movements were markedly improved. Most noticeably, David greeted everyone in the office with a smile and looked everyone in the eye while conversing. He looked at himself in the mirror and said he 'loved the way he looked."

We are planning to perform another surgical procedure in the near future to further define and correct his ear which has been enlarged and distorted by the disease," added Dr. Spinelli.
Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disease that causes tumors to grow along nerves throughout a persons body. It affects 100,000 Americans and is more prevalent than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Tay-Sachs and Huntingtons Disease combined.

David is thrilled with the results of the surgery and has said, I want to become a doctor. I want to be able to change peoples lives the way Dr. Spinelli has changed mine."

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About Henry M. Spinelli, M.D., FACS
Listed among the Best Doctors in America and the Best Doctors in the New York Metro Area, Dr. Spinelli is on staff at New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center and his Manhattan office is at 875 Fifth Avenue, on the corner of 69th Street.
He holds a medical degree from New York University and was formally trained in ophthalmology at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, general surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian and plastic surgery at New York University. He has subspecialty training in cranio facial, micro and aesthetic surgery. Dr. Spinelli is board certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify plastic surgeons. His work in craniofacial, oculoplastic, and aesthetic surgery is nationally recognized and he has lectured and written extensively on these subjects.

Currently, Dr. Spinelli holds a faculty appointment at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University as Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery and has served on the faculty of Yale University as the Director of Craniofacial Surgery. He is a board certified plastic surgeon with memberships in numerous professional societies and is currently on staff at The New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Medical College of Cornell University, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and The Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital in New York City. In the state of Connecticut, Dr. Spinelli utilizes The Yale-New Haven Hospital, The Greenwich Hospital, and The Hospital of Saint Raphael.