Gold Seal-certified spine surgery at Beacon helps patient regain hand function
For Sue Thompson, feeling clumsy began causing problems in her daily life. At first, she would occasionally drop things. Then it became more troublesome.
“I had lost feeling in my hands,” she said. “It felt like I was wearing a tight blood pressure cuff that never came off.”
She couldn’t perform daily tasks that required gripping, like clipping her fingernails.
Sue sought the help of Beacon Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician Andrew Berkson, DO. He discovered her spine was pinching the nerves in her neck.
Dr. Berkson knew surgery was Sue’s best course of treatment and referred her to neurosurgeon Wei Huff, MD.
After an MRI, Dr. Huff confirmed her diagnosis: severe spinal stenosis. The spinal cord travels through a hole in the vertebrae. Stenosis occurs when the hole becomes too narrow.
“Sometimes, the space where your nerves go can get too tight,” Dr. Huff said. “This can cause pain and or weakness.”
Personalizing Sue’s spine surgery
Dr. Andrew Berkson, Beacon Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Sue and Dr. Huff decided spine surgery was the best way to relieve pressure and help Sue regain sensation. Dr. Huff considered Sue’s total health when planning the procedure.
Sue has rheumatoid arthritis, causing constant inflammation in her body, including her joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. She takes immunosuppressant medication to calm the attack.
While the medication helps her arthritis, it also weakens her immune system, leading to recurring infections.
Dr. Huff collaborated with an infectious disease specialist and a rheumatologist to plan Sue’s surgery. They chose an anterior (front) approach to reduce Sue’s chance of infection. Surgery from the front of the neck also has a shorter healing time, meaning Sue would be able to resume her arthritis medication more quickly.
Dr. Huff also planned to replace a plate in Sue’s neck from a previous surgery.
Getting ready for spine surgery can be a stressful experience for some patients. “I was a nervous wreck,” Sue said. “But Connie, the nurse who prepped me for surgery, was so calming and informative. Everyone there treated me so well.”
Regaining feeling in her hands
Dr. Wei Huff, Beacon Medical Group North Central Neurosurgery South Bend
Dr. Huff performed an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) on three of Sue’s vertebrae. This procedure removes the cushiony disk between vertebrae to relieve pressure. Dr. Huff then fused the vertebrae together to stabilized her spine.
“Dr. Huff did a wonderful job,” Sue said. “After surgery, I didn’t even need to use pain pills.” Sue stayed in the hospital for a few days while the team monitored her healing before she went home.
Six weeks after her procedure, Sue already felt pain free. Sensation in her arms and hands has been improving daily.
“I can pinch my fingers together again. I can grab things!” Sue said.
As the nerves continue to heal, it may take up to 16 months for Sue to regain all her sensation, but she is encouraged by the results.
She has worn a neck brace for extra support and she also uses a bone stimulator, sending electrical impulses to her bones to promote bone growth.
Fortunately, Sue has already been able to return to the Cattery, a local cat refuge where she volunteers — and gets her cat fix.
The Gold Seal of Approval® in spine surgery
Choosing your team for spine surgery is a big decision. The team at Beacon cares for more than just the patient — we care for the whole person.
“We treat our patients like they are our friends and family,” Dr. Huff said. “We want them to understand their symptoms and know their options.”
Beacon is committed to providing exceptional spine care and has achieved Gold Seal of Approval® in spine surgery from The Joint Commission. This means Beacon participates in a thorough on-site review of quality and safety that must meet rigorous standards. Part of the survey includes speaking with patients like Sue.
During the review, The Joint Commission determined that Beacon excels at the following:
- Provide a safe care environment
- Educate patients about conditions, risks and treatment options
- Protect patient rights and privacy
- Protect patients against infection
- Plan for emergency situations
Certification shows that Beacon is dedicated to continuous improvement in spine care. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, our neurosurgeons collaborate with other specialists to create the best plan of care for our patients. We combine our expertise to personalize each procedure.
Learn more about spine care and neurosurgery from Beacon Health System.
