Physicians at NeuroTexas Institute Perform Complex Procedure to Straighten Patient’s Spine

8/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

AUSTIN, TEXAS-On July 13, 2009, neurosurgeons at NeuroTexas Institute at St. David's HealthCare performed a complex procedure on a 41-year-old patient who was suffering from neurological symptoms due to a hormonal imbalance that left his bones as brittle as those of a 90-year-old woman with osteoporosis. During the eight-hour procedure, Mark Burnett, M.D. and Douglas Fox, M.D.-neurosurgeons and executive medical directors of NeuroTexas Institute at St. David's HealthCare-worked to straighten the patient's neck, which had become "L-shaped" and was pinching his spinal cord.

The patient, Bruce Rossiter, had been suffering from chronic pain since he was 15 years old, but his condition went undiagnosed for years. After suffering multiple fractures to his brittle bones, Rossiter underwent multiple surgeries to fuse his vertebrae. However, the surgeries had been unsuccessful due to the compromised texture of his bone.

"His bone is sort of soft and mushy, so putting in things like screws is like putting them into rotten wood," Dr. Burnett said.

Rossiter came to NeuroTexas Institute at St. David's HealthCare for help when he began experiencing neurological symptoms, and eventually dramatic muscle spasms.

"A few months ago I started to lose the function and feeling in my left hand-losing strength, losing feeling, it was all numb and tingly," Rossiter said.

During a lengthy procedure, Dr. Burnett and Dr. Fox removed three of his vertebrae in his neck, and replaced them with plastic vertebrae. Although the surgery was especially difficult due to his uncommonly brittle bones, doctors consider his surgery a remarkable success.

One month later, Rossiter's spine is straight and he has regained full use of his limbs. He will continue to wear a halo brace for the next two months to stabilize his neck, and is optimistic that he will make a full recovery.

See video of this story linked on the right.