Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis announced today that local spine surgeon Douglass A. Linville, II, MD performed the area’s first Sacroiliac (SI) Joint fixation surgery using the minimally invasive iFuse Implant SystemTM. The new Saint Francis Joint and Spine Center located on the hospital’s campus is a strong proponent of minimally invasive spine surgery procedures that can reduce the length of patient hospitalization and recovery.
“Minimally invasive surgery advances continue to offer a variety of patients potentially safer surgical options,” said Mike Lachina, Chief Medical Officer. “We are pleased that Dr. Linville chose our Saint Francis surgical team to assist him in bringing this promising new procedure to Memphis.”
The iFuse procedure is promising for patients with unresolved low back symptoms related to the SI Joint. The SI Joint connects the sacrum, the triangular bone at the bottom of the spine, with the pelvis iliac crest. This joint can become damaged either due to normal wear and tear over time or through injury.
When such damage happens, it can cause significant discomfort from the lower back down to the lower buttock region and the upper leg. This discomfort can lead to debilitation and one’s quality-of-life may greatly suffer.
According to publisher literature, up to 25% of all low back symptoms are SI Joint in origin1 but is usually not included when diagnosing lower back pain. “Over the last thirty years, the medical community has focused on the vertebral discs, such as a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease, as a generator of low back pain,” states Dr. Linville. “Because of this, the SI Joint is often overlooked and should be included as part of a diagnosing for lower back pain.”
The iFuse procedure takes about an hour and involves three small titanium implants inserted surgically across the SI Joint. The entire process is done through a small incision, with no soft tissue stripping and minimal tendon irritation. Patients may leave the hospital the next day after surgery and can usually resume daily living activities within six weeks, depending on how well they are healing and based on physician’s orders.
For more information on the iFuse Implant System™, go to www.si-bone.com.
- Cohen, Steven P. Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Comprehensive Review of Anatomy, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Anesth Analg 2005; 101:1440-1453.
About Saint Francis Hospital
Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis is a 519-bed full service hospital located at 5959 Park Avenue in Memphis, Tenn. The hospital has been recognized for excellence of care by: United Healthcare, CIGNA Healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and the American Society of Bariatric Surgery. The hospital provides a broad-spectrum of quality medical services, including an Ambulatory Surgery Center, Behavioral Health Services, Cardiac Care Center, Center for Surgical Weight Loss, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation Services, Sleep Center, TotalCare Outpatient Imaging Center, and Women’s Center.
In addition, the hospital serves as an academic training site for University of Tennessee Surgical, Family Practice, and Psychiatric Residents. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. To learn more about Saint Francis Hospital, visit www.saintfrancishosp.com.