SOURCE: slp3D

September 21, 2005 04:15 ET

Reminder - OR-Live.com Presents: Minimally Invasive Kyphoplasty Procedure for an Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture From Good Samaritan Hospital

Live CME Webcast: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 4:00 PM ET, 20:00 UTC

BALTIMORE, MD -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 21, 2005 -- Good Samaritan Hospital will host a live surgery webcast on kyphoplasty for osteoporotic and osteolytic vertebral compression fractures on Wednesday September 21, 2005, at 4-5pm (ET). The event will be introduced by David S. Hungerford, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery at Johns Hopkins Orthopaedics at Good Samaritan Hospital who is at the forefront of research, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and osteonecrosis (bone death). Physicians, who log onto this webcast, will receive continuing medical education credit as they learn about osteoporosis diagnosis, treatment, and surgical options.

The webcast will be performed and moderated by A. Jay Khanna, MD, and Mesfin A. Lemma, MD, assistant professors of orthopaedic surgery at Johns Hopkins Orthopaedics at Good Samaritan Hospital. Dr. Khanna's academic and clinical interests include minimally invasive spine surgery, vertebral augmentation techniques including kyphoplasty and the treatment of cervical and lumbar stenosis. Dr. Lemma's clinical expertise includes minimally invasive spinal surgery, spinal problems in the elderly, scoliosis, and rheumatoid arthritis of the spine.

Osteoporosis, an often painful and crippling condition that affects 28 million Americans, occurs when the loss of calcium from bones results in weakened bone structure and breakage. Compression fractures occur where the upper portion of the vertebral body collapses down with a greater portion of the collapse in the front of the vertebral body. This condition produces a "wedged vertebrae," a shortened height, and bent over posture.

The kyphoplasty procedure includes the use of an inflatable bone tamp for use in reducing fragility fractures to help them heal and creating a cavity in the soft inner bone in the vertebral body. Prior to injecting the cement-like material, a special balloon is inserted and gently inflated inside the fractured vertebrae, to restore height to the bone thus reducing deformity of the spine. According to Dr. Khanna, most patients return to their normal daily activities after either procedure. "The goals of the kyphoplasty procedure are to stop the pain caused by the bone fracture, stabilize the bone, and to restore some or all of the lost vertebral body height due to the compression fracture while minimizing risk to the patient," he says.

Visit http://www.or-live.com/goodsam/1371 to learn more. VNR: http://www.or-live.com/rams/mhs-1371-mkw-q.ram