Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital

Surgical Services

At Memorial Hermann Southeast, our primary goal is to provide high quality care with exceptional patient outcomes. We have the capability for numerous specialty and minimally invasive surgeries, including: general, gynecologic, orthopedic, ophthalmology, thoracic, plastic surgery, ear, nose and throat, sports medicine, urology and neurosurgery.

Surgical techniques include endoscopic, minimally invasive approaches to help reduce post-operative pain, speed recovery, shorten hospital stays and reduce disability. New technologies include herniated disk treatment, spine fracture repair and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease.

To meet the needs of our patients and physicians, we offer two locations on the campus of Memorial Hermann Southeast. The 24-hour Main Surgery Department located in the hospital provides around-the-clock surgical services in all of our specialties. Our Day Surgery Center, located in Medical Plaza 1, is designed for procedures that do not normally require an overnight stay.
   

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Herniated Disks

As many as four out of five Americans experience significant back problems during their lives, making back pain the second most common reason for a doctor’s visit. Many times, a herniated disc is the source of the pain. For patients who do not respond to therapy or medication, neurosurgeon J. Greg Bonnen, M.D., treats this problem surgically with a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. This approach offers a speedier recovery, smaller incision, less post-operative pain and a shorter hospital stay than traditional open surgical procedures. 

A fluoroscope is utilized to obtain a real-time view of the spine. Guided by the fluoroscope, a small needle is inserted through the skin and muscle to the affected area to make the initial ½-inch incision. Following the needle, dilators, or metal tubes, are inserted sequentially – from small to large - through the muscle. A muscle-splitting METRx™ method is used to gradually separate and open, rather than cut the muscle. The herniated disc is then removed through the small opening, while the support structure of the disc remains intact. 

“Once the procedure is complete, the dilator is removed and the separated muscle fibers flow back together,” explained Bonnen. “The minimally invasive approach limits the muscle damage and pain often associated with traditional back surgery. It also allows for more movement and faster return to work and daily activities.” Bonnen has used the minimally invasive surgical approach to treat herniated discs, degenerative discs and deformity corrections.

Balloon Kyphoplasty

Osteoporosis causes more than 700,000 spinal fractures each year in the United States. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, this is more than twice the annual number of hip fractures.

Spinal fractures can also be caused by cancer, the most common being multiple myeloma. According to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, in the majority of patients with multiple myeloma, osteolytic lesions develop which weaken the bone, causing pain and increasing the risk of fractures.

Some spinal fractures may collapse acutely while others collapse more slowly. Left untreated, one fracture can lead to subsequent fractures, often resulting in a condition called kyphosis, or rounded back. Kyphosis, signified by the dowager’s hump, can compress the chest and abdominal cavity, which may result in negative health consequences.

Balloon kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive, orthopedic treatment that stabilizes the fracture, thereby reducing pain and providing for correction of the deformity. Studies also report the following benefits:

• Correction of vertebral body deformity
• Significant reduction in back pain
• Significant improvement in quality of life
• Significant improvement in mobility, including the ability to perform daily activities such as walking, hobbies and work
• Significant reduction in the number of days per month that a patient remains in bed
• Low complication rate

About the Procedure

The spine specialist creates a small pathway into the fractured bone. A small, orthopedic balloon is guided through the instrument into the vertebra. The incision site is approximately 1 cm in length.

The balloon is carefully inflated in an attempt to raise the collapsed vertebra and return it to its normal position. Inflation of the balloon creates a void (cavity) in the vertebral body.

Once the vertebra is in the correct position, the balloon is deflated and removed. The cavity is filled with bone cement forming an internal cast to support the surrounding bone and prevent further collapse. Generally, the procedure is done on both sides of the vertebral body.

The balloon kyphoplasty procedure typically takes about one hour per fracture and may require an overnight hospital stay. The procedure can be done using either local or general anesthesia; the surgeon will determine the most appropriate method, based on the patient’s overall condition.

In most cases, Medicare provides coverage for balloon kyphoplasty. Other insurance plans may also cover the procedure.

Although the complication rate with balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical procedures there are risks associated with the procedure, including serious complications. Patients should consult with their physician for a full discussion of the risks.

Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital
11800 Astoria Blvd, Houston, Texas 77089
281-929-6100

For physician referral, call 713-222-CARE (2273).