Gary Monroe has enjoyed good health most of his life. Even after retiring, he stayed active, playing golf and walking 2 to 3 miles daily. When he started experiencing pain in his left hip, he wasn’t concerned at first, but the pain progressed. “I started to feel the pain not only in my hip but down my thigh, and then a tingling in my foot. I knew something wasn’t right, so I went to see my primary care physician,” explains Gary.
An MRI revealed Gary had a lumbar spondylolisthesis, a condition that occurs when one vertebra slips forward on top of the one below it. When this happens, the canal within the spinal column, which houses and protects the spinal nerves, can get narrower and cause compression or pinching of the nerve roots.
Coincidentally, Gary’s nephew was experiencing the same problem and had spine surgery performed by Jean-Marc Voyadzis, MD, neurosurgeon and co-director of the Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. “My nephew was thrilled with the surgery results. He urged me to call Dr. Voyadzis,” says Gary.
MedStar Georgetown is well known for its expertise in treating complex spinal conditions like Gary’s, offering a full spectrum of care, from minimally invasive procedures to advanced techniques like robotic-assisted surgery. The multidisciplinary approach ensures that patients receive comprehensive care, addressing both the physical and neurological aspects of spinal health.
But at 78, Gary was nervous about undergoing spine surgery. “I did my research,” he says. “I watched a video of Dr. Voyadzis discussing the procedure and it increased my confidence that this doctor knew what he was doing.” Gary made an appointment that week.
“Dr. Voyadzis explained everything,” says Gary. “My wife, Linda, and I were thrilled to hear he could do the surgery using a less invasive approach and without general anesthesia.”
“The standard of care for the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis when conservative therapies have failed is a lumbar fusion,” explains Dr. Voyadzis. “Traditionally, it is done while the patient is under general anesthesia. What is exciting about Mr. Monroe’s surgery is that we were able to use minimally invasive techniques and robotics to perform a spinal fusion with spinal anesthesia.”
“The anesthetic process involves numbing the body from the waist down (spinal anesthesia) and light sedation for the duration of the surgery,” explains Dhiraj Jagasia, MD, director of Acute Pain and Regional Anesthesia at MedStar Georgetown. “The advantage for patients is less post-op pain, shorter recovery, and none of the potential side effects of general anesthesia.”
Awake spine surgery, as performed by Drs. Voyadzis and Jagasia, is the first of its kind offered in the Washington, D.C., region. They both cautioned that not every patient is a candidate and patients must undergo a thorough screening process. Dr. Jagasia and Dr. Voyadzis work together to determine the best procedure for each patient. For patients like Gary, this approach not only means less pain and a quicker recovery but also a smoother return to daily life with minimal disruption. MedStar Health provides the full spectrum of spine treatments, ensuring that every patient receives a personalized plan tailored to their unique needs and medical history.
Gary says he couldn’t be happier with his outcome. “I was up and walking without pain within two hours of the surgery,” he says. “I stayed at the hospital for only one night.” Once home, Gary started six weeks of physical therapy. “They were amazed at how quickly I recovered. I feel very privileged in having Dr. Voyadzis as my surgeon along with the excellent facilities at MedStar Georgetown,” he says.
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