New state-of-the-art procedure helps reduce future herniations

Brighton, WI, May 8, 2008 –Richard Korth, 44, Brighton, who has struggled with a herniated disc for years, is now pain free and looking forward to a future without complications.  For a long time Korth endured constant pain in his lower back and referred pain in his legs, which greatly limited his ability to be productive in his exhibit building business. 

A frequent cause of lower back and leg pain is spinal disc herniation.  The condition arises when a rupture, or herniation, occurs through the annulus fibrosus which is the outer layer of the disc.  Over time, the soft inner part of the disc pushes out through this weakened area, putting pressure on the nerve root, and causing debilitating pain.   Sometimes leg weakness or numbness can also occur. 

Ten years ago, after his first episode of severe pain, doctors performed a discectomy, a surgical procedure in which the loose material that has extruded out of the disc and is irritating the nerve root is removed.  More than 390,000 discectomies are performed in the U.S. each year.  It is the most common surgical procedure performed on the spine.

For many years, Mr. Korth only had minor pain.  However, in June of last year, after doing stomach crunches at his local fitness center, he felt excruciating pain running down his leg, again from a herniated disc.  Re-herniation of the spinal disc appears in 10-15 percent of patients who’ve had discectomies. 

This time, Korth knew that he would have to do something different.  He found Dr. Dean Karahalios, spine neurosurgeon at the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN), who suggested another discectormy complemented with a new device to avoid future re-herniations.   Dr. Karahalios inserted a FDA-approved umbrella-like mesh implant, which re-enforces the weakened ruptured area of the annulus fibrosus.

"My goal was not only to relieve his pain, but also ensure that it never returns," says Dr. Karahalios.

The implant, or Inclose Annular Repair Device, is inserted through the defect in the disc and opened up like an umbrella to act as a seal against additional disc material that might otherwise push through after the surgery.  The implant significantly reduces the likelihood of future re-herniation of the disc.

Korth says it is hard to explain how painful it is and how your life gets put on hold when you have back problems.  "The pain down my legs, feet and toes was unbearable," he says.  "After the surgery, the pain was gone.  It was truly a life-changing experience."