Minimally Invasive Procedure is Alternative to Spinal Fusion Surgery

Milko Mejia, an active 39-year-old New York City police officer, experienced neck and shoulder pain so severe that he had difficulty shaving, driving, sleeping or even bending down to kiss his infant son.

After recent neck surgery, Milko Mejia stretches out before running at Cunningham Park.

Two years ago Mr. Mejia was injured in a car accident when he and his partner responded to an emergency call in Brooklyn. A vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the patrol car, where Mr. Mejia was seated. After the accident, imaging tests showed that he had a herniated disc in the cervical (neck) spine, which is made up of seven bones, or vertebrae.

Milko Mejia is back to running cross country trails at Cunningham Park after neck surgery.

“At first surgery wasn’t indicated,” said Mr. Mejia, who lives in Middle Village, Queens. “I tried chiropractic and other pain management techniques, but the pain got progressively worse. At one point I had stabbing pain in my neck, back, shoulder and right arm, with numbness in some of my fingers, right elbow and forearm -- I was close to calling an ambulance. ”

Needing relief, Mr. Mejia made an emergency appointment with a neurologist who referred him to M. Chris Overby, MD, a surgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery of The Spine Institute of the Harvey Cushing Institutes of Neuroscience, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System.

On July 15, Dr. Overby examined Mr. Mejia and recommended a spinal fusion surgery. This type of surgery involves implanting an interbody graft and metal plate, rigidly fusing the vertebrae together. Recovery could take a few months and would restrict motion. But Mr. Mejia had luck on his side. The next day, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Prestige® Cervical Disc manufactured by Medtronic, Inc., the first artificial disc commercially available in the United States for use in the neck to alleviate neck and arm pain.

“Mr. Mejia was the perfect candidate for the Prestige disc because he is young and active,” said Dr. Overby. “The artificial disc can be surgically implanted using a minimally invasive approach designed to maintain motion and flexibility while replacing a diseased disc from the spine.”

Results of a controlled study involving 541 patients showed that the Prestige disc had superior outcomes in neurological success, as well as overall success including safety and effectiveness, when compared to spinal fusion, according to Medtronic, Inc. The implant is made of a stainless steel ball-and-trough that is designed to mimic the motion of a naturally functioning cervical spine.

“We were lucky to be able to offer Mr. Mejia an alternative to a discectomy and fusion which puts extra stress at the discs above and below the fusion,” Dr. Overby said.

Dr. Overby performed the new disc surgery on Mr. Mejia on August 15 at North Shore University Hospital, the first time this procedure was performed at a North Shore-LIJ hospital. Mr. Mejia spent one night in the hospital and recovered at home.

Dr. Overby said Mr. Mejia’s prognosis is “excellent” and he noted that there was “complete alleviation” of his patient’s pre-op symptoms.

“I’m happy with the results of the surgery,” said Mr. Mejia, who is back to running cross country trails in Cunningham Park near his home. “I feel great, the pain is gone,” adding; “now I can bend down and kiss my son.”

Media Contact: Betty Olt 516-465-2645