To complex spinal surgeries for kids might sound a bit farfetched at first glance. However, after taking a closer look, the 7D Surgical Navigational System – as it’s dubbed – is actually a perfect fit, and Driscoll Children’s Hospital is leading the way in implementing this new surgical technology in the U.S., and, in turn, charting a new course for children throughout South Texas. “Pediatric spinal surgeries,” explains Christopher Comstock, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon at Driscoll Children’s Hospital, “are often complex and challenging for the kids, their families, the surgeons and the whole medical team. With that in mind, we are always looking for new ways to improve the surgeries themselves and the outcomes. We now have an extraordinary opportunity with this new 7D Surgical Navigational System to do just that.
Dr. Comstock has been performing complex spinal surgeries on children in South Texas who suffer from scoliosis, as well as neuromuscular conditions, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy, for the past 25 years. And often, those surgeries are extremely complex and take hours to complete — at times as long as 10-12 hours.
With this new technology, Driscoll Children’s Hospital becomes the first children’s hospital in the U.S. to implement 7D navigational technology, paving the way for children in need of spinal procedures in South Texas to have safer and shorter surgeries with even better outcomes.
“We implemented the 7D navigational system for the first time on Sept. 9 of last year,” recalls Dr. Comstock. “ We have done 20 surgeries since then using this technology and the majority of those surgeries have been for children. From the Valley. With each surgery, we have learned more about the capabilities and improvements this technology can and does offer for our. Patients, and at the same time enhanced our skill level as a medical team.
Dr. Comstock has been performing complex spinal surgeries on children in South Texas who suffer from scoliosis, as well as neuromuscular. Conditions, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy, for the past 25 years. And often, those surgeries are extremely complex and take hours to complete — at times as long as 10-12 hours.
“Using this new 7D technology,” says Dr. Comstock, “we can perform surgeries on children with pinpoint accuracy It displays an image that allows us to not only. See the surface anatomy of the spine, but we can also see a 3D image of it so we know. Exactly where we need to be at exactly the right moment.
By Debra Young Hatch