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Baptist Hospital’s Live Webcast Showed Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy

01-29-2009

Sergio Gonzalez-Arias, M.D., chief of neurological surgery and medical director of Baptist Hospital’s Neuroscience Center, performed a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy January 28. The webcast, broadcast live, was moderated by Dr. Sean Kenniff, former healthcare reporter for WFOR-CBS Channel 4.

To see a replay of the webcast, click here. Viewers can also choose to watch the procedure in Spanish.

A minimally invasive lumbar discectomy is performed to correct a herniated disc in the lower back. The surgery involves delicate instrumentation that allows the surgeon to operate through a small incision, spreading muscles rather than cutting them. Compared to open surgical procedures, minimally invasive spine surgery has many advantages, including less blood loss, less pain, smaller incisions and a faster recovery. Most patients can go home the day of surgery.

Baptist Hospital’s Neuroscience Center provides the most comprehensive and innovative techniques to diagnose and treat the brain, spine and nervous system. The Center’s staff includes neurosurgeons and other specialists acclaimed for clinical and educational leadership, as well as specialty-trained nurses and clinical professionals.

Dr. Gonzalez-Arias has served as chief of the Baptist Hospital’s Department of Surgery and is past president of the medical staff. He has lectured nationally and internationally on minimally invasive spine surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery. He is currently involved in multicenter clinical research in minimally invasive spine surgery.

Baptist Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization in the region. It also includes Baptist Children’s Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital in the Upper Keys, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute and Baptist Outpatient Services. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities affiliated with Baptist Health.

 
For a free referral to a Baptist Health physician, contact our Physician Referral Service. If you would like information about our cancer services, the Cancer Resource Service can assist you. Requests from outside the United States can be sent to International Services. For general comments about this article, send an e-mail to the Marketing web coordinator.


Contact: Barbara Moore; 786-596-6534

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