Neuroscience
In an interview with ReachMD, Neil Malhotra, MD, assistant professor of neurosurgery, discusses exciting minimally invasive treatments of degenerative disc disease as well as new quality improvement measures under way at Penn Neurosurgery.
Treatment Developments for Degenerative Disc Disease
Each year in the United States, lower back pain costs $50 billion in direct and indirect costs and is responsible for 15 million doctor visits. For many people, spinal disc function starts to decline in their 30s. Gradual loss of a disc’s water “cushion” leads to a decreased ability of the spine to transfer forces and results in a decreased range of motion. Outer layers of the disc can break down and eventually may lead to a fracture. Surgery is an effective treatment option for many people with degenerative disc disease, but surgery is invasive and can be potentially damaging.
Injectable polymer tissues are an exciting new development that could repair and even reverse degenerative disc disease, according to Dr. Malhotra.
“My [research] lab is focused on non-invasive treatments that can be delivered through a needle, on an outpatient basis, that would restore normal mechanics and range of motion to the disc,” Dr. Malhotra said. “Our goal is not only to restore normal mechanics, but actually stimulate natural cell growth to recapture water which provides the cushioning that the disc needs to perform well. The prototypes we’re working with are liquid injectables that form a semi-solid mass, provide support and eventually we hope will grow normal cells.”
Quality Improvement Measures at Penn Neurosurgery
Dr. Malhotra also describes new quality improvement measures at Penn Neurosurgery in the interview. He poses the issue: “We know what helps patients, but we don’t know how much it helps them.”
He goes on to describe a new effort to capture patient neurosurgical outcomes, both at Penn Medicine and nationwide. Penn Neurosurgery, along with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons, is part of a national effort to collect data from patients who undergo neurosurgical procedures.
By tracking patients over the months and years following surgery, Penn Neurosurgery hopes to determine the extent their quality of life is improved. This data can help doctors and patients make more informed decisions about surgery as a treatment option—both at Penn and nationwide.
Dr. Malhotra said: “This is particularly valuable for patients suffering from symptoms caused by spine conditions. We can weigh the risks of a surgical procedure against the anticipated quality of life improvement, where the anticipated quality of life improvement is based on the outcomes of patients at Penn and across the country for that procedure.”
Listen Now: ReachMD Interview with Neil Malhotra, MD
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Neuroscience
Minimally Invasive Treatment Developments for Degenerative Disc Disease and Quality Improvement Measures at Penn Neurosurgery
Treatment Developments for Degenerative Disc Disease
Each year in the United States, lower back pain costs $50 billion in direct and indirect costs and is responsible for 15 million doctor visits. For many people, spinal disc function starts to decline in their 30s. Gradual loss of a disc’s water “cushion” leads to a decreased ability of the spine to transfer forces and results in a decreased range of motion. Outer layers of the disc can break down and eventually may lead to a fracture. Surgery is an effective treatment option for many people with degenerative disc disease, but surgery is invasive and can be potentially damaging.
Injectable polymer tissues are an exciting new development that could repair and even reverse degenerative disc disease, according to Dr. Malhotra.
“My [research] lab is focused on non-invasive treatments that can be delivered through a needle, on an outpatient basis, that would restore normal mechanics and range of motion to the disc,” Dr. Malhotra said. “Our goal is not only to restore normal mechanics, but actually stimulate natural cell growth to recapture water which provides the cushioning that the disc needs to perform well. The prototypes we’re working with are liquid injectables that form a semi-solid mass, provide support and eventually we hope will grow normal cells.”
Quality Improvement Measures at Penn Neurosurgery
Dr. Malhotra also describes new quality improvement measures at Penn Neurosurgery in the interview. He poses the issue: “We know what helps patients, but we don’t know how much it helps them.”
He goes on to describe a new effort to capture patient neurosurgical outcomes, both at Penn Medicine and nationwide. Penn Neurosurgery, along with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons, is part of a national effort to collect data from patients who undergo neurosurgical procedures.
By tracking patients over the months and years following surgery, Penn Neurosurgery hopes to determine the extent their quality of life is improved. This data can help doctors and patients make more informed decisions about surgery as a treatment option—both at Penn and nationwide.
Dr. Malhotra said: “This is particularly valuable for patients suffering from symptoms caused by spine conditions. We can weigh the risks of a surgical procedure against the anticipated quality of life improvement, where the anticipated quality of life improvement is based on the outcomes of patients at Penn and across the country for that procedure.”
Listen Now: ReachMD Interview with Neil Malhotra, MD
- Introducing The New Penn Neuroscience Center
On February 23, 2015, the Penn Neuroscience Center officially opened, with the mission of providing a new level of specialty care for those suffering from or at risk for complex neurological disorders. The outpatient facility joins together our neurology,...
- Question And Answer With Dr. Ozturk
Ali K. Ozturk, MD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and sees patients at Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights. He specializes in the treatment of complex spinal conditions including tumors, degenerative spine...
- Penn Neurosurgery Welcomes Ali K. Ozturk, Md
Ali K. Ozturk, MD, has joined Penn Neurosurgery as an Assistant Professor. Dr Ozturk received his BA in biology from Johns Hopkins University and his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine. He then completed a residency in neurosurgery...
- Dr. Malhotra Q&a: Benefits Of Penn Neurosurgery At Chestnut Hill
Neil R. Malhotra, MDNeil R. Malhotra, MD, assistant professor of neurosurgery, who continues to see patients at Valley Forge and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), now has office hours in Chestnut Hill as well. Dr. Malhotra, who provides...
- Penn Neurosurgeons Advocate For More Endovascular Training In Residency Programs
In a recent American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Resident’s Forum article, Penn neurosurgeons assess the current role of endovascular surgical neuroradiology (ESN) training in American neurosurgery training programs and make the case...