Page 18 - Talk of Tequesta - November '24

Page 18, The Talk Of Tequesta

TaMpa generaL news

TGH First In Tampa Region Offering Same-Day Spinal Surgery

Tampa General Hospital (TGH) is the first health system benefits to this technique, “So far we’ve successfully treated athletes, soldiers
in the Tampa region to treat a range of spine diseases and including a nearly zero and even patients in their 90s,” said Kim. “Collaborating
conditions via minimally invasive endoscopic spine percent chance of wound with Tampa General’s anesthesia team, we’ve been able
surgery. Patients at the academic health system’s TGH infection. “The end result to perform awake spine surgeries with minimal sedation,
Neuroscience Institute experience same-day discharge, is smaller incisions, less similar to colonoscopies. This is a game-changer for
quicker recovery, minimal downtime and less pain. tissue disruption and patients usually deemed too sick for general anesthesia.”
The procedure involves the surgeon inserting the quicker patient recovery Kim notes that patients with ruptured discs typically
endoscope through a tiny incision about the size of a time after surgery,” he said. recover the same day, whereas those with more chronic
pencil tip to access an affected area, such as a herniated Dr. Kim is the first illnesses recover in the span of a few days up to a week.
disc. The device is then guided to the spine to capture fellow ship-trained TGH Neuroscience Institute surgeons perform more
video that’s projected onto a monitor. The surgeon can endoscopic surgeon in the minimally invasive spine surgeries than any other hospital
also insert miniature tools through the endoscope to help Tampa region. He received in the region, including endoscopic laser spine surgeries,
perform procedures to treat bone spurs, chronic pain, his medical degree from Dr. Patrick Kim microdiscectomies, laminectomies, foraminotomies and
degenerative disc disease, facet joint syndrome, herniated LSU New Orleans and lumbar fusions.
discs, sciatic nerve compression and spinal stenosis. completed his residency at the University of Mississippi Tampa General is ranked by U.S. News & World Report
According to Dr. Patrick Kim, an endoscopic spine Medical Center. Subsequently, he pursued a fellowship in 2024/25 as a high performing hospital for neurology
surgeon at Tampa General, and an assistant professor endoscopic spine surgery at the University of Washington and neurosurgery, meaning the academic health system
in the Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Harborview Medical Center. “I’ve witnessed the is among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation.
at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine at progression from traditional open surgery to minimally Additionally, the TGH Neuroscience Institute is one of the
the University of South Florida, there are multiple invasive spine surgery,” he said. “The endoscopic spine top neurology and spine programs in the U.S., according
surgery represents the pinnacle of that progression.” to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2023 list of “Hospitals and
Tampa General’s Spine Neurosurgery Program Health Systems with Spine and Neuroscience Programs
leverages a multidisciplinary team of physicians to Know.”
who specialize in the treatment and management of Since 2020, Tampa General has been creating a
degenerative cervical and lumbar conditions, and complex framework of state-of-the-art services for patients in
spinal deformities. Palm Beach and Martin counties with the expertise and
How do you know if you’re a candidate for spine innovation of a preeminent academic health system.
surgery? Kim said that 80 percent of the U.S. adult Patients treated by Tampa General East Coast physicians
population experiences lower back pain or neck pain in enjoy several benefits, including access to minimally
their lifetime. “As a surgeon, my role is to distinguish invasive and complex surgeries that utilize state-of-the-
whether surgery is a patient’s best option,” he said. Kim art technologies. Tampa General is the primary teaching
works closely with the TGH Neuroscience Institute’s affiliate of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
team of chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists and is one of the largest hospitals in the nation.
and pain interventionists to determine the next course For more information about the minimally invasive
of action. “First, we try as many nonsurgical treatment endoscopic spine surgery offered at Tampa General, visit
options as possible,” he said. “In most cases, surgery is TGH.org/MinimallyInvasiveSpineSurgery.
usually a last resort.”

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NOVEMBER 9, 8-2 400 Seabrook Road, Tequesta

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Bake Sale

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Lunch Grill
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