New spinal surgery performed at St. Luke’s

On Dec. 8, St. Luke’s University Health Network’s functional neurosurgeon Steven Falowski, MD, was the first physician in the nation to implant the newest generation of spinal stimulation technology into a patient in a surgery that occurred at St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital.To manage the device, which increases and decreases the electric impulses to the spinal cord, the patient uses an iPod touch™. And while this system is not a cure for the issue that causes the pain, the system allows the patient to live better.Dr. Falowski has worked closely with his colleague Scott Loev, DO, Director of Pain Medicine at St. Luke’s Spine and Pain Associates, and with St. Luke’s spine and pain physicians to provide a true multi-disciplinary approach with this patient population.SCS is a proven therapy that can help reduce the impact of chronic spine-related pain to allow patients to lead more functional lives, according Dr. Falowski. Spinal cord stimulation is a proven treatment in managing chronic pain of the arms, legs and trunk, or pain remaining following spinal surgery. The therapy involves implanting a small device that powers thin wires placed along the spinal cord.