The George Washington Hospital is pleased to offer advanced technology for the treatment of lower back and leg pain. Dynesys is a spinal system that offers an alternative to the traditional fusion treatment by using flexible materials to stabilize the spine. Dynesys can provide added stability while keeping vertebrae in a more natural position than can be achieved with traditional fusion surgery.
This procedure is recommended as an alternative to fusion surgery to treat degenerative slipped discs in the thoraciclumbar, lumbar or sacral regions. The surgical procedure generally takes a few hours. It involves removing a portion of the affected disc(s) and bone from the spine and implanting the Dynesys dynamic stabilization system. The system is attached to the bone (pedicle) on each side of the affected vertebrae and discs. The implants create an active push-pull relationship that stabilizes the affected joint while still keeping the vertebrae in their natural positions and allowing controlled limited motion.
Although full recovery from surgery and improvements in back pain can take several weeks, many patients experience almost immediate relief of any leg pain and recovery is often shortened since fusion is not required. Rehabilitation is prescribed by most doctors and should be followed to ensure a full recovery and a positive outcome.
The primary advantage of the Dynesys system is the preservation of the intervertebral discs and structure of the affected vertebrae and preservation of motion. During clinical trails, patients benefited from a significant reduction in pain and the possibility of resuming normal daily activity sooner thanks to reduced hospital recovery time.
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