Chronic pain can take away the joys of life. Some have to give up their favorite sport. Some struggle to complete once simple household tasks. And for many, it means losing their independence. For Paula Lehmkul, it was the pleasure of working in her garden and playing with her grandchildren.
Paula’s leg pain reached its pinnacle after she fell down a flight of stairs. She tried physical therapy, but ultimately had to seek out another treatment.
Paula was fortunate she went to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. The hospital and staff had just finished implementing new technology that would offer Paula some hope.
On April 2 Aspirus Spine and Neurosciences operated on Paula using new technology from BrainLab never used before in Wisconsin. Aspirus neurosurgeon Andrew Beaumont, MD, PhD, used the equipment to complete a lumbar spinal fusion on Paula.
He was amazed by the technology. “I think this is a revolution,” Dr. Beaumont said. “It is so nice to have this quality. It’s like going from a black and white TV to an HD TV. It gives me so much more confidence.”
The mobile machine called “AIRO” from BrainLab allows clinicians to create 3D images of a person using a portable CT scanner. The new technology helps surgeons operate on a patient with more accuracy.
The BrainLab AIRO mobile CT scanner is transported in to a surgical room prior to surgery. The scanner is attached to the operating room table. A CT scan is performed prior to utilizing the BrainLab navigation system to register the brain or spine to a reference array placed on a fixed location on the body. The wound is then closed once the surgeon is satisfied with the CT result.
This technology doesn’t stop with spinal surgeries. Dr. Beaumont thinks Aspirus will be able to use the new BrainLab technology for many stages and phases of surgical procedures.
“Going forward we might be able to do this for other clinical work,” he said. “This technology can be implemented in cranial, orthopedic, trauma and many more procedures. The natural evolution is that this will expand to help provide even better patient care.”
The new scanner will also save time. A traditional X-ray or MRI scan can sometimes take up to 30 minutes to obtain the needed images. The AIRO scanner can produce three-dimensional 32-slice CT scans in just one to two minutes.
Time seems to be on Paula’s side. Three months later Paula is very pleased with her progress. “The doctors tell me my bone healing looks like I’m at six months versus three months,” claims Paula. “I noticed a difference immediately after my procedure. Today, the pain in my legs is totally gone.”
Paula’s pain wasn’t able to take away her passion and independence thanks to the Aspirus medical staff and the ARIO CT scanner. She is still in recovery, but she will soon be able to get back to her garden and playing with her grandchildren.
“I have a lot of hope now for my future,” says Paula. “I was losing independence. Now, I won’t have to depend on others as much. I’m very satisfied with my experience with Dr. Beaumont and Aspirus. I can now look forward to having more joy in my life.”