New Nerve Mapping Technology Helps Doctors Measure Effectiveness of Surgery During Procedure
Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) August 02, 2013 -- According to a new study out of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, research involving 42 patients lead doctors to believe that mechanomyography, also known as MMG, is in fact effective for measuring nerve function during surgery and determining whether or not the nerves in question are compressed.
“In cases of severe nerve trauma in those suffering from back pain and Sciatica, this is a very promising study that will help doctors provide patients with the highest level of care possible, though more research is still necessary,” said world-renowned surgeon Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS.
MMG technology works to detect muscle movement and send alerts to surgeons in real time, which provides a greater insight into measuring the performance of nerves while still in surgery. The idea behind the technology is that inadequate surgeries could potentially become eliminated. Even though the research appears promising, it’s important that additional testing is done on a greater number of patients to ensure safety and effectiveness. The study is slated to be presented at the 2013 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon’s annual meeting.
“Compressed nerves are extremely painful for patients, and we as surgeons want to make sure that we perform surgeries to the best of our abilities. A development like this could greatly improve the chance that a patient would only ever need one surgery because we’d be one hundred percent sure the treatment was successful while we are still in the operating room,” said Dr. Eric Millstein,orthopedic surgeon at La Peer Health Systems in Los Angeles.
Current operating room methods of assessing nerve decompression include direct visualization and electromyography, which are effective but still include a wide margin of error. To ensure a patient receives the highest level of care during his/her nerve surgery, it’s important to select an expert surgeon with a proper board certification.
“Once more testing is done on the MMG, I think this technology may prove useful in the future for a variety of surgeries involving the nerves, such as facial nerve monitoring during facial paralysis procedures,” said Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, facial paralysis expert at La Peer Health Systems in Los Angeles.
Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS, is the director of the Facial Paralysis Institute in Beverly Hills and one of the leading figures in the world on Facial Nerve Paralysis. Dr. Azizzadeh has been recognized for his work on several occasions and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show as well as countless other media outlets. As a trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and head and neck surgeon, Dr. Azizzadeh has a distinctive insight into facial nerve function and facial aesthetics.
La Peer Health Systems, an outpatient surgery center in Beverly Hills, founded by doctors and focused on providing excellent patient care alongside the most cutting-edge medical treatments available. With 40 world-renowned physicians in 13 specialties, comprehensive medical treatment is offered that takes patients from consultation to diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and ultimately aftercare. The 13 medical departments include orthopedics & sports medicine, gastroenterology, head & neck surgery, colorectal & general surgery, podiatry, ophthalmology, pain management, plastics & reconstructive surgery, gynecology, spine surgery, interventional cardiology, bariatric surgery, and anesthesiology. Unlike large hospitals, La Peer's unique structure offers extremely personal care in a safe and controlled environment.
To learn more about La Peer Health Systems, visit http://www.lapeerhealth.com.
Risa Luksa, La Peer Health Systems, http://www.lapeerhealth.com/, 855-360-9119, [email protected]
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