Ultrasonic Spine Institute 1
Stereotactic Radiosurgery Used to Treat
Long Islander with Acoustic Neuroma
2
Brain Tumor Support Group 3
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Support Group
3
New Treatment Options
for Chronic Pain
4
NSPC’s Care Centers 5
NSPC’s Office Locations 6
Spring/Summer 2017 Newsletter
Make the right call!
NSPC’s Care Centers
NSPC’s Office Locations
What’s Newat NSPC?
1-844-NSPC-DOC • nspc.com
NewsletterPurpose......................................
Since 1958, we have provided our services to generations of patients on Long Island and beyond, and we look forward to continuing to do so in the years ahead.
Moreover, we will always bring cutting-edge technology and best practices to our offices and to the hospitals where several NSPC doctors serve as chiefs of neurosurgery.
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Since 1958, we have provided our services to generations of patients on Long Island and beyond, and we look forward to continuing to do so in the years ahead.
MICHAEL H. BRISMAN, M.D.
the hospitals where several NSPC doctors serve as chiefs of neurosurgery.
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Ultrasonic Spine Institute Established at NSPC
WILLIAM J. SONSTEIN, MD, FACS, Senior Partner at Neurological Surgery, P.C., Introduces Ultrasonic Spine Institute for Safer, More Effective Revision Spine Surgery
We at the Ultrasonic Spine Institute (USI) employ safer, revolutionary ultrasound and radiofrequency technology to perform spine surgery. This technology is used as a major part of the procedure and helps decompress nerves and reduce blood loss. In contrast, laser spine surgery only uses the laser to remove soft tissues over the spine, a step that is often unnecessary in more modern minimally invasive techniques. The laser is just a light that burns soft tissues and is unable to remove bone. Laser spine surgery does, in fact, require incisions and traditional instruments to remove bone and ligament that is required to decompress the nerves, a common misconception.
At the USI we perform the full range of cervical and lumbar surgeries for all types of conditions including:
• Degenerative spine disease• Herniated discs• Spinal stenosis• Spondylolisthesis • Spinal tumors
Revolutionary Spine Treatments
We perform simple traditional discectomies and laminectomies for herniated discs and lumbar stenosis. We also, when required, perform all cervical and lumbar fusion procedures.
We utilize ultrasonic bone emulsification technology which effectively “melts” bone during laminectomy for discectomy or stenosis. This preserves soft tissue such as the spinal membrane, reducing the possibility of complication such as spinal fluid leakage. In addition to traditional decompression instrumentation, we also employ the use of the Aquamantys System which utilizes transcollation technology that combines radiofrequency energy and saline to stop bleeding quickly by shrinking blood vessels. This helps to minimize blood loss and reduce transfusion rates during spine surgery.
Why Use Ultrasonic Techniques?
These “ultrasonic” techniques are important to successful spine surgery as they address the most important aspects of spine surgery: decompression, reducing blood loss, and minimizing the incidence of spinal fluid leak. We at the USI are pleased to offer these technologies to our patients and feel we offer a much more effective and comprehensive alternative to laser spine surgery.
The Misonix SonaStar Ultrasonic Aspiration System effectively emulsifies or “melts” bone during laminectomy or discectomy for stenosis. This preserves soft tissue such as spinal membrane, reducing the possibility of complications, such as spinal fluid leakage.
The Medtronic Aquamantys System utilizes Transcollation technology that combines radiofrequency energy and saline to stop bleeding quickly by shrinking blood vessels. This helps minimize blood loss and reduce transfusion rates during spine surgery.
radiofrequency energy and saline to stop bleeding quickly by shrinking blood vessels. This helps minimize blood loss and reduce transfusion rates during spine surgery.
1-844-NSPC-DOC • nspc.com 1
Stereotactic Radiosurgery Used to Treat Long Islander with Acoustic NeuromaAt first it began with a ringing in the ears, which I basically ignored. I thought it was a result of many years of being around loud machinery when I worked in the construction industry, artillery and small arms fire when I was in the Army and the Police Department. However, the vertigo, occasional nausea, double vision, and ringing in the ears started slowly, almost imperceptibly, and got steadily worse over a span of approximately six years, and it began impacting on my quality of life, and making things that I took for granted either extremely hard or impossible to do anymore, and it was making me miserable. I had seen the ENT’s and they at first said that it was allergies, but when different prescribed allergy medications didn’t work, and after further doctor’s visits, they then determined it to be Meniere’s disease, and I was put on a regimen of Antivert, which also didn’t do much to alleviate the symptoms. It got to the point where I was calling in sick at my job as a Customs Officer at JFK Airport when the vertigo became too severe to allow me to either drive to work, or do the job when I was there.
I scheduled an appointment with a Neurologist, and after he had examined me he sent me to take a brain MRI. I got a call from him a couple of days later that I will never forget; he said the results were in and that he had good news and bad news. O.K. I said give me the bad news first, he told me that all my symptoms were not associated with Meniere’s disease, but that I had a type of brain tumor called an acoustic neuroma. To say I was shocked and speechless would be an understatement! After I had caught my breath and collected myself I asked him after that what could possibly be the good news? He said that after looking at the MRI, he determined that it was not a malignant tumor, so I have to say that WAS Good News after all.
I chose to go to see Dr. Michael Brisman a neurosurgeon at Neurological Surgery P.C. and we went over the options for treatment and surgery. Due to the positioning of the tumor, the doctors did not recommend traditional surgery to remove it. I decided to go with the gamma knife surgery, performed by Dr. Brisman and Dr. Edward Mullen at South Nassau Communities Hospital. The side effects of traditional type of surgery were in their mind pretty severe; possible hearing loss, paralysis, loss of vision, and the recovery period was also prolonged and painful, and I fully agreed with their assessment.
Dr. Brisman and his team explained that the alternative was the Gamma Knife procedure, which would eliminate almost all the severe after effects that could occur with a traditional surgery; after going over all my options, doing my own research on line, and considering the pros and cons of the options available to me, I chose to go with the Gamma Knife surgery which was performed at South Nassau Communities Hospital in August of 2008.
Dr. Brisman and his team were very caring and had explained each and every step of the procedure. I was very nervous and apprehensive on the day of the surgery, but when all was said and done, it went much better than I had anticipated. I went home to recuperate with a lot more optimism than I had had for a long time.
I was out of work for approximately 3+ weeks, and when I returned the vertigo and the double vision were almost gone. The ringing in my ear had been reduced considerably. It has been now over eight years since my procedure, and I have been able to resume all the activities that I had been doing before the vertigo and double vision reduced me to a veritable shut in; I am now retired for over three years, and enjoying life again. I see Dr. Michael Brisman for semiannual follow-up MRI’s and checkups, and so far, everything is on track, the tumor is dead, and stable, and my MRI’s are good. I have my life back, and hope to enjoy a long healthy retirement thanks to Dr. Brisman and his team.
- Danny Barbaro Lynbrook, N.Y.
Here’s a picture of one of my favorite retirement pastimes, traveling. The first is myself and my wife on a cruise to Canada, and the other one is with a friend at the Yankees game in Washington DC. I go to a different stadium every year to see the Yankees play. That’s me on the right.
1-844-NSPC-DOC • nspc.com2
1
Trigeminal Neuralgia Support GroupRight here on Long Island @ NSPC
For Those Who Suffer From Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) and Related Facial Pain
You are not alone!!
Facilitator:Madeline Brisman L.M.S.W.
Every meeting focus’s on a different topic with related guest speakers!
Meets on the 2nd Tuesdayof the Month
Summer 2017 Dates:• May 9th• June 13th• July/August off • Sept. 12 Resume• Oct. 10th• Nov. 14th • Dec. 12th
WHERE: 1991 Marcus Ave Suite 108,Lake Success, NY
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS! 6PM – 8PM - Spouses, SignificantOthers, Family, & Friends are Invitedand Encouraged to Attend!!
RESERVATION REQUIRED Please Contact: Jasmin E-Mail: [email protected]
TNA – THE FACIAL PAIN ASSOCIATION
408 W. University Ave., Suite 602, Gainesville, FL 32601
TEL 352.384.3600 800.923.3608
FAX 352.384.3606
EMAIL: [email protected]
www.tna-support.org
Brain Tumor Support Group Support Group Meeting for Brain Tumor Patients, Family Members, and Caregivers. Share Feelings, Concerns, Experiences, Ways to Cope, and More!
Facilitator:Tina Sapienza, L.M.S.W., O.S.W.-C.
Meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
2017 Meeting Schedule:
• May 18• June 15• July 20• August 17• September 21• October 19• November 16• December 21
Time: 4:00 to 5:45 p.m.Place: Neurological Surgery, P.C. 1991 Marcus Avenue, Suite 108 Lake Success, NY 11042 (Light Refreshments to be Served)
Reservation required. Limited seating.
Call Richard Van Allen at 516.442.2250 or send Email to [email protected]
Funding for the program is provided by Voices Against Brain Cancer (VABC) and Neurological Surgery, P.C. (NSPC)
1-844-NSPC-DOC • nspc.com 3
New Treatment Options for Chronic PainAccording to the Institute of Medicine, chronic pain affects more than one out of three Americans, an incidence rate that’s greater than heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined.
No one can predict when a simple acute injury or a surgery, such as total knee arthroscopy, will morph into something else. Perhaps a chronic condition will develop that produces a baffling array of disproportionate pain, swelling, and unimaginable sensitivity throughout the afflicted region.
Once known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is the most uncomfortable form of chronic pain. There is intractable pain in their upper or lower extremities.
Chronic pain affects more than one out of three Americans.
The hands are the most common site for presentation, followed by the knees, feet, ankles, and low back. CRPS can be difficult to diagnose and treat. However, advances in neurobiology have made implantable pain therapies, including neurostimulation, an option for some patients. In the past, traditional spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was
used to treat CRPS with varying results. However, recent innovations for the treatment of chronic pain, including neurostimulation systems that target the dorsal root ganglion, provide patients with more effective alternatives.
The dorsal root ganglion (DRG), also known as the posterior root ganglion, lies at the posterior root of each spinal nerve. Pain signals travel from the extremities and must pass through a dorsal root ganglion. There’s a DRG connected to every vertebra in your spine.
Brian J. Snyder, M.D., an attending neurosurgeon at Neurological Surgery, P.C. (NSPC) who specializes in the surgical treatment of chronic pain, notes that the concept of DRG stimulation is nearly identical to SCS stimulation, with one very important difference. “Rather than placing the leads in a general region of the spinal cord,” notes Dr. Snyder, “DRG stimulation targets the specific regions of the cord that are transmitting the pain and shuts down those painful signals by placing leads over the dorsal root ganglia.” Dr. Snyder is the only surgeon on Long Island performing DRG stimulation.
Earlier this year, a company received FDA approval for a neurostimulation system specifically designed for DRG stimulation.
For more information, or to seek a consultation with Dr. Snyder to explore new treatment options for chronic pain, please call 516-442-2250.
BRIAN J. SNYDER, M.D.Attending Neurosurgeon, Neurological Surgery, P.C.
1-844-NSPC-DOC • nspc.com4
NSPC’s Care Centers
Minimally Invasive Spine Center
Nassau County:William J. Sonstein, M.D.Stephen T. Onesti, M.D.Vladimir Y. Dadashev, M.D.Artem Y. Vaynman, M.D.Sachin N. Shah, M.D.Robert N. Holtzman, M.D.Benjamin R. Cohen, MD
Suffolk County:Ramin Rak, M.D.Donald S. Krieff, D.O.Alan Mechanic, M.D.Zachariah M. George, M.D.___________________________________________
Minimally Invasive Brain CenterMichael H. Brisman, M.D . Brian J. Snyder, M.D.Jonathan L. Brisman, M.D. Paolo A. Bolognese, M.D.Lee Eric Tessler, M.D. John A. Grant, M.D.Jeffrey A. Brown, M.D. John Pile-Spellman, M.D.Alan Mechanic, M.D. Ramin Rak, M.D.___________________________________________
General Neurosurgery CenterStephen D. Burstein, M.D.Robert N. Holtzman, M.D.Alan Mechanic, M.D.___________________________________________
Brain Tumor CenterMichael H. Brisman, M.D.Lee Eric Tessler, M.D.Ramin Rak, M.D. John A. Grant, M.D.
___________________________________________
Ultrasonic Spine InstituteWilliam J. Sonstein, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Cerebrovascular/Neuroendovascular CenterJonathan L. Brisman, M.D.John A. Grant, M.D.John Pile-Spellman, M.D.Sundeep Mangla, M.D.___________________________________________
Trigeminal NeuralgiaFacial Pain CenterMichael H. Brisman, M.D.Jeffrey A. Brown, M.D.Alan Mechanic, M.D.___________________________________________
Stereotactic Radiosurgery CenterMichael H. Brisman, M.D.Lee Eric Tessler, M.D.Jeffrey A. Brown, M.D.Ramin Rak, M.D.Alan Mechanic, M.D.___________________________________________
Epilepsy CenterBrian J. Snyder, M.D. Gad E. Klein, Ph.D.___________________________________________
Movement Disorders CenterBrian J. Snyder, M.D. Gad E. Klein, Ph.D.___________________________________________
Pediatric Neurosurgery CenterJohn A. Grant, M.D.___________________________________________
Pain CenterJeffrey A. Brown, M.D. Brian J. Snyder, M.D.Stephen T. Onesti, M.D.___________________________________________
Chiari Malformation CenterPaolo A. Bolognese, M.D.
1-844-NSPC-DOC • nspc.com 5
Neurological Surgery, P.C.100 Merrick Road • Suite 128WRockville Centre, NY 11570
Great Neck600 Northern BoulevardSuite 118/113Great Neck, NY 11021(516) 478-0008
Rockville Centre100 Merrick Road Suite 128W/200WRockville Centre, NY 11570(516) 255-9031
Lake Success1991 Marcus Avenue Suite 108Lake Success, NY 11042(516) 442-2250
Bethpage4250 Hempstead Turnpike Suite 4Bethpage, NY 11714(516) 605-2720
Commack353 Veterans Memorial Hwy.Suite 303Commack, NY 11725(631) 864-3900
West Islip500 Montauk Hwy. Suite KWest Islip, NY 11795(631) 983-8400
1500-8A Route 112Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 (631) 828-3001
nspc.com
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