A neurosurgeon at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is one of the first in Ontario to perform a spinal fusion surgery to alleviate lower back pain in an arthritis sufferer from the Niagara Region.
Dr. Deep Guha performed direct lateral lumbar interbody fusion on a St. Catharines resident who’s had excruciating back and leg pain and numbness for years.
“This is a less invasive way that can help people get through their surgery with less blood loss, less time in the operating room, and a faster recovery and a shorter stay in the hospital for selected patients who are appropriate for it,” Guha told Global News.
Dianne Laplante, 58, underwent the procedure in mid-September at Hamilton General after a number of non-surgical attempts to manage pain from arthritis in her spine didn’t work.
“It hurt so badly because of severe spasms, numbness and shooting pain. It was calling my attention 24/7 and nothing I tried could cut through the pain for more than a few days at a time,” Laplante said.
The retail worker was referred to HHS and Guha by a Niagara hospital after her diagnosis appeared to be a candidate for direct lateral lumbar interbody fusion — which combines small bones (vertebrae) to heal into a single, solid bone.
“For people coming in with significant back and leg pain … you try all of the non-surgical treatment first, like physical therapy, massage and acupuncture with a few things like medications,” Guha said.
