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Keep Moving. Keep Healing. Redefine Your Recovery Experience Q. I’ve been a keen golfer for more than 40 years but in the last year increasing pain in my lower back has put a stop to my game, temporarily, I hope. After a number of consultations, I was advised that spinal fusion surgery may be the best option for me to address the cause of my back pain. After doing some research on the subject, I became aware of a device called SpinalStim that may help with my spinal fusion recovery. Can you tell me about the SpinalStim device? Yes. Orthofix’s SpinalStim™ device is a noninvasive, postoperative bone growth therapy commonly prescribed by physicians to increase the probability of fusion success in patients that have had spinal fusion surgery in the lower back. Some patients who experience spinal fusion surgery have difficulty healing, often due to certain health factors that may have impaired the natural healing process of their bones. To help overcome these healing challenges, doctors commonly prescribe the SpinalStim device. In addition, the SpinalStim device is also commonly prescribed as a treatment option for patients who have experienced a failed spinal fusion. Rather than performing a second or revision surgery on the patient, doctors may prescribe the SpinalStim device to improve the chances of spinal fusion. Q. If my doctor determines that the SpinalStim device would be the best treatment for me after my spinal fusion surgery, can you tell me how it works? The device operates by sending lowlevel pulses of electromagnetic energy to the fusion site to stimulate the bone’s natural healing process. It is typically worn daily for two hours until spinal fusion is achieved or until your physician recommends you can stop treatment. Depending on the specific conditions associated with your fusion, treatment protocols commonly range anywhere from three to nine months in duration. Unless otherwise advised by your surgeon, patients typically can perform their routine daily activities while wearing the device.
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Q. Is the success of SpinalStim treatment related to age—now into my mid-50s, can the treatment be as successful as for someone in their 30s? The safety and effectiveness of the device have been proven in patients who are skeletally mature. As a result, the device is typically prescribed in adult patients (including patients in their 30s) and not children. Q. How can I tell if my device is working and does Orthofix offer a warranty on the device? The SpinalStim device has a treatment indicator to notify patients that it is operating and in treatment mode. In addition, the device is accompanied by a mobile app called STIM onTrack™ that helps patients stay on schedule with their treatments to help them obtain the desired clinical outcomes. The device is prescribed with a limited guarantee program, subject to eligibility requirements, that if fusion is not shown, the fee paid for the unit will be refunded to the payer(s) of record. Q. Is the SpinalStim device FDA approved and completely safe to use? The SpinalStim device received FDA approval in 1990 and provides a safe, noninvasive treatment. Together with the Orthofix CervicalStim™ device, which is used in high-risk spinal fusions in the neck, the SpinalStim device is the number one prescribed bone growth stimulator for spinal fusions. The North American Spine Society coverage recommendations support the use of pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation, the mechanism by which SpinalStim treatment operates, as an adjunct to spinal fusion surgery in patients with health factors that may impair the success of their fusion. Q. If a golfer, for instance, has already had recent spinal fusion surgery, could the SpinalStim device still be beneficial for them to use? The SpinalStim device is prescribed to be used postoperatively, whether
adjunctively by patients undergoing recent spinal fusion surgery or as a surgical alternative for patients who have undergone a previously failed spinal fusion. Based on an evaluation of the specific conditions associated with your spinal fusion, your doctor can make the determination if the SpinalStim device would be beneficial for you. Q. Can you tell me if SpinalStim treatment has a good success rate in getting players back onto the golf course? As demonstrated in the clinical studies required to gain FDA approval, the SpinalStim device has a high spinal fusion success rate of 92% when used as an adjunct to spinal fusion surgery. Patients should consult with their individual doctors to determine whether they can successfully return to the golf course following their spinal fusion surgery and their use of the Orthofix SpinalStim device. To learn more about the recovery experience of other patients utilizing Orthofix bone growth therapy devices, visit bonestimulation.com.
11/09/2017 14:03