Rick Sasso, MD

A recent blog entry highlighted articles about the cervical artificial disc, written by Dr. Rick Sasso  - a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group.

In this spine wellness educational video, Dr. Sasso discusses cervical artificial disc; the indications, overview of surgical procedure and the advantages of this procedure. 

In May 2009, the Bryan Cervical Artificial Disc received FDA approval.  This approval was previously written about in Dr. Sasso’s blog.  The cervical artificial disc provides an alternative spine surgical treatment for cervical degenerative disc disease.

Dr. Rick Sasso, a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group, has been a principal investigator in the studies with this spine surgical device – the Bryan Cervical Disc.  A few of abstracts of his published research studies regarding the cervical disc are available on the U.S. National Library of Medicine / National Institutes of Health web site. 

These include:

• Cervical kinematics after spinal fusion and bryan disc arthroplasty 
  
• Motion analysis of bryan cervical disc arthroplasty versus anterior discectomy and spinal fusion: results from a prospective, randomized, multicenter, clinical trial 
  

Earlier this year, Dr. Rick Sasso and I were asked to write a spine continuing education chapter on “Controversies in Cervical Spine Surgery”, specifically about a newer spine surgical technology known as dynamic plating for cervical fusions.  Traditional plates, known as static plates, have a high success rate, but in reviewing the published reports of direct comparisons between the two plates, the dynamic plates have a slightly higher percentage which fuse.  It may be even more beneficial in longer fusions.

I have switched my practice to essentially using only the dynamic plates for cervical spinal fusions.  I have been very happy with the  results.  As with all new technology, it is important to carefully monitor results and compare them against established techniques.  I'm keeping an eye on continuing trials even as I incorporate this technology into my own practice.

(This blog entry was written by Paul Kraemer, MD; a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group). 
 

Spinal stenosis is a general term that refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal. Often this is a degenerative condition resulting from aging. More commonly found in the lumbar (lower back) spine, it also occurs in the cervical (neck) spine. 

Learn more about spinal stenosis, the diagnosis and treatment with this education video featuring Dr. Kenneth Renkens.   Dr. Renkens is a neurosurgical spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group. Orthopaedic spine surgeons with Indiana Spine Group include Rick Sasso, M.D., Thomas Reilly, M.D., and Paul Kraemer, M.D.

If you were not able to attend Indiana Spine Group’s continuing medical education conference, Back Talk | Comprehensive Concepts in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal Disorders -  educational sessions are now available on-line.

Educational Sessions include:

• The Fundamentals of Spinal Diagnostics | Kevin Macadaeg, MD
• Common Spinal Disorders | Paul Kraemer, MD
• The Uncommon and Difficult | Part One: Benign | Michael Stack, MD, PhD
• The Uncommon and Difficult | Part Two: Urgent | Kenneth Renkens, MD
• The Basics | Spinal Imaging | Thomas Reilly, MD
• Non-Operative Care: An Evidence-Based Overview | Jonathan Gentile, MD, and Jeff Hebert, DC, PhD (c)
• Minimally Invasive Spine Treatments | John Arbuckle, MD
• The Surgical Patient | Part One: Cervical | Rick Sasso, MD
• The Surgical Patient | Part Two: Lumbar | Kenneth Renkens, MD

To view these continuing education sessions, click here.  Additionally, if you would like to receive continuing medical education credits for viewing theses sessions, visit the St.Vincent Distance Education Site and view from there. Registration is free.

 
(A very special thank you to St.Vincent Spine Center for making these videos possible.) 

The St.Vincent Orthopedic Center and St.Vincent Spine Center recently earned the Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification for joint replacement and spine surgery, respectively. The Joint Commission is the nation’s premier healthcare accreditation entity.  Read the complete story in the Indianapolis Star. 

Dr. Rick Sasso, co-medical director of the St.Vincent Spine Center spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group was quoted in this article.

Many times, when people have chronic lower back pain – they experience a greater level of depression than individuals without chronic back pain. This continuing medical education session at “Back Talk” will provide physicians and health care practitioners insight into learning to recognize and assess psychological risk factors of patients with acute and chronic back pain. 

During this session entitled "Psychological Barriers," Ricks Warren, PhD, ABPP, will identify psychological issues in patients with chronic back pain and malingering. Additionally, he will review the psychological barriers for effective treatment of acute and chronic spinal problems – and identify the warning signs and when referral to a metal health professional is indicated. 

Ricks Warren, PhD, ABPP joins the Back Talk continuing medical education  faculty from Michigan. Dr. Warren is a clinical lecturer and psychologist with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. 

In a recent blog entry, Indiana Spine Group announced the FDA approval of the Bryan™ Cervical Disc. This cervical artificial disc, provides spine surgeons an alternative device for implantation when performing cervical arthroplasty.  In 2007, the Prestige Disc received FDA approval. In a recent press release, Dr. Rick Sasso stated that “The Bryan Cervical Disc more closely mimics natural spine disc movement with shock absorbing characteristics than a previously approved device.”

Indiana Spine Group is excited to announce that we are one of the providers of this latest technology. At this time, physicians with Indiana Spine Group are the only ones using the Bryan Cervical Disc in cervical arthroplasty in Indiana. 
 

Dr. Rick Sasso, a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group, was a principal investigator in the clinical trials for the Bryan Cervical Disc.  Additionally, Dr. Kenneth Renkens was an investigator in this trial. Dr. Renkens is a neurosurgical spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group. 

To learn more about the Bryan Cervical Disc, click here.  
 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 317.228.7000 or
toll-free 866.947.7463.    

On Monday, Anne Marie Tiernon - news anchor with WTHR, interviewed Dr. Rick Sasso about the recent FDA-approval of the Bryan™ Cervical Disc. This story aired on June 9, and here is the link to this story. 

Dr. Rick Sasso, a principal investigator in the Bryan Cervical Disc clinical trial, implanted the first Bryan Cervical Disc in the United States. This procedure was done at St.Vincent Hospital, and was performed with Kenneth Renkens, MD. Dr. Renkens, also involved with this clinical trial, is a neurosurgical spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group.

Additionally, cervical arthroplasty patient Kevin Wacasey was interviewed in this story. Kevin received the first Bryan Cervical Disc in the United States in 2002. Today, he is doing great! He enjoys spending time with his teenage son, golfing, fishing and other hobbies. 

Spine surgeons Drs. Rick Sasso and Kenneth Renkens, will be presenting a two part talk on The Surgical Patient at Back Talk. Back Talk is the continuing medical education symposium for primary care physicians and health care practitioners.  These presentations will discuss the cervical spine surgical patient and the lumbar spine surgical patient. The goal of these continuing medical presentations is to help the practitioner understand who the ideal spine surgery candidate is, and the indications and expectations for spine surgery. Additionally, different surgical options will be discussed. 

Dr. Rick Sasso, will discuss the cervical spine surgery patient. In this presentation he will review the cervical pathology and diagnoses for indicative of surgery – both degenerative and traumatic. Additionally, Dr. Sasso will discuss common cervical spine surgical procedures, their indications and expected outcomes.

For the lumbar spine presentation, Dr. Kenneth Renkens will discuss the indications and diagnoses when lumbar surgery is a treatment option. Dr. Renkens will also discuss common lumbar surgical procedures – their specific indications and the effectiveness of these lumbar spine surgery procedures. 

An article on Spine Universe entitled “Post-Operative Care:  Activity, Incision Care, Rehab and Recovery,” discusses the importance of planning on post-operative care, prior to spine surgery.  This article outlines the expectations immediately following spine surgery, and answers frequently asked questions by the patient and the family; i.e. recovery room, anesthesia and waking up and pain management. 

Part two of this article addresses other key post-operative spine surgical care issues such as physical therapy and rehab, surgical incisions and hospital discharge.

This article was reviewed by Indiana Spine Group spine surgeon, Rick Sasso, MD.  Dr. Sasso thought that this was a good resource for patients that are scheduled for spine surgery and that it is important for patients to be aware of the routine post-operative steps following spine surgery. 

A recent blog entry highlighted a surgical procedure for lumbar spinal stenosis the X-STOPÒ.  This newer procedure decompresses the spinal cord that has narrowed as a result of lumbar spinal stenosis.  Once decompressed (opened), the pressure on the spinal cord is relieved, thereby eliminating the pain. Dr. Rick Sasso, a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group was one of the first surgeons to perform this procedure in Indianapolis.  This device was approved by the FDA in November 2005.  Here is a link to the press release, which provides more detail on this procedure. 

Here is more information about spinal stenosis. 

We are excited to announce that Dr. Rick Sasso has been selected to be the chairman / course director for the annual spine meeting hosted by the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons.  This program that targets orthopaedic surgeons - will be held in November 2009.

At this program entitled, Contemporary Techniques in Spine Surgery, physicians will learn the latest surgical techniques for addressing spinal pathology.  Dr. Sasso will address basic and advanced techniques of various spine surgeries including cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine procedures. 

To learn more about this program, click here. 

Physicians with Indiana Spine Group presented at the fall conference of the Indiana State Chiropractic Association this past weekend, on November 1 and 2. 

On Saturday Dr. Kevin Macadaeg, a minimally invasive spine specialist, spoke on minimally invasive techniques used to help manage spinal pain.  Additionally, he addressed diagnostic and therapeutic spinal injections.  Spine surgeons - Dr. Thomas Reilly, Dr. Kenneth Renkens and Dr. Rick Sasso also spoke on Saturday.  Dr. Reilly discussed when spine surgery is a potential treatment option.  Dr. Renkens’ talk entitled “Understanding Lumbar Surgery”, focused on the lower back and reviewed spine surgery options and indications for the lumbar spine.  Additionally, he discussed the different types of lumbar fusions and their applications.  Dr. Rick Sasso focused on cervical surgery, and his talk was entitled “The ABC’s of Cervical Surgery”.  In this talk, he discussed common cervical surgical procedures; including spinal fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement. 

On Sunday, minimally invasive spine specialists Dr. Jonathan Gentile and Dr. John Arbuckle reviewed case studies of minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.  Spine surgeons Dr. Thomas Reilly and Dr. Paul Kraemer also reviewed case studies of surgery patients.

For more information about this conference, click here. 

Physicians with Indiana Spine Group are actively involved in research.  The goals of the research that they participate in are to develop minimally invasive surgical techniques, and to identify and develop minimally invasive procedures that allow the patients to return to normal activities as quickly as possible.

A few research projects that Indiana Spine Group has participated in include:

Lumbar Disc Implant – Drs. Rick Sasso (a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group) and Kenneth Renkens (a neurosurgical spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group) participated in the FlexiCore lumbar disc study.  Used to treat degenerative disc disease, the lumbar disc implant replaces the damaged disc. This procedure is an alternative to a spinal fusion.

Percutaneous Reference Frame (PRF) – Dr. Rick Sasso developed this devise that improves the capability for spine surgeons to perform minimally invasive spine surgery.  By the use of an infrared camera and the PRF - this allows spine surgeons exact placement of spine surgical instruments – with less of an incision. This technology has been referred to as “global positioning of instrumentation” – and it works similar to the GPS technology used in cars.

Cervical Artificial Disc – Drs. Rick Sasso and Kenneth Renkens also participated in the study for the Bryan Cervical Disc, and performed the first cervical artificial disc implant in North America in 2002.  This cervical artificial disc has received preliminary approval from the FDA last summer. 

Electrothermal Disc Decompression (EDD) and Intradiscal Elctrothermal Therapy (IDET) Studies – Dr. Kevin Macadaeg, a minimally invasive spine specialist with Indiana Spine Group, participated in this study that evaluated the effectiveness of EDD and IDET to treat lower back pain and sciatica.  These treatments use a heat coil, which is inserted via a catheter in the disc of the spine.

Physicians with Indiana Spine Group attended the 23^rd annual meeting of the North American Spine Society(NASS) in Toronto, Canada.  At this international meeting, all aspects of caring for the patient with spine problems were discussed.  This includes medical management, minimally invasive spine treatments and spine surgery. 

Additionally, Dr. Rick Sasso a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group gave numerous presentations.  A few of his presentations included:  A Comparison of the Dynamic Compliance Characteristics of Prosthetic Cervical Disc Materials and Total Disc Replacement for Treating Lumbar Discogenic Back Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Study of Flexicore® vs. 360 Spinal Fusion.  Additionally, he chaired a technique workshop on Interbody Fusion Technologies. 

This blog entry is in response to a recent comment where I was asked if there was a clinical study for a lumbar artificial disc.  The answer to that question is yes.  Currently I am participating in a FDA-approved clinical trial for the Flexicore artificial lumbar disc.  This lumbar artificial disc is a metal on metal disc used as a spine surgery treatment option for lumbar degenerative disc disease.  Here is a link to an abstract of a recent article published an article in Spine. I co-authored this study entitled, Prospective, Randomized Trial of Metal-on-Metal Artificial Lumbar Disc Replacement: Initial Results for Treatment of Discogenic Pain.

To find out more about this study and participant criteria, my research nurse can answer your questions.  Please call our office at 317.228.7000 and ask to speak to Dr. Sasso's research nurse. 

During this education session, Dr. Rick Sasso will discuss common spinal deformations which affect younger patients; including scoliosis.  This will include the latest diagnostic information and screening guidelines as well as treatment information.  Additionally, Dr. Sasso will discuss when spine surgery is a treatment option.