Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) announced that Justin Iorio, MD, a spinal surgeon with the practice, is the first physician in the area to be trained and certified in prone transpsoas, or PTP™, surgery. With the PTP approach, patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) are placed in a single position for the entire procedure, yet there is full access to the spine for various MIS techniques. This type of procedure negates the need for additional surgical tables, reduces the time of surgery, and also reduces the patient’s time under anesthesia.
The PTP technique leverages the benefits achieved via lateral spine fusion procedures to treat a wide range of patient pathologies. The PTP System combines the PTP Patient Positioning System, Sigma™-PTP Access System, and SafeOp™ Neuromonitoring. Its principal difference from the standard lateral procedure relies on positioning the patient prone, allowing for a streamlined surgical approach that addresses many of the challenges that have limited adoption of lateral spine fusion.
“The benefits of PTP procedure for the patient are multiple,” comments Dr. Iorio. “It mitigates blood loss, reduces the risk of infection and surgical trauma to the body, and thereby decreases the length of a post-operative hospital stay.” He also notes that smaller incisions are made causing less pain which reduces the need for pain medication.
PTP integrates a SafeOp Neuromonitoring system that provides real-time, objective information on the integrity of the femoral nerve, providing the surgeon critical feedback during the procedure. “I can immediately see on a tablet if nerve dysfunction sets in,” says Dr. Iorio. “This gives flexibility in operative planning and techniques during a procedure which allows us to protect the integrity of the nerve.”
PTP is an option for most patients undergoing a variety of spinal surgeries. Patients that had previously been considered at high risk for surgery may now be eligible because the less invasive approach has a lower risk of infection, bleeding, and quicker recovery. “There has been positive feedback from the initial cases using PTP and even complex revisions have gone well,” remarks Dr. Iorio.
Patients who have undergone PTP procedures with Dr. Iorio have been pleased with the outcome. Autumn, a resident of Baldwinsville, age 65, had been suffering from constant pain prior to the surgery. “Two months after the surgery, I was back to teaching swimming and even hiking in the Adirondacks.” Similarly, Joyce, age 73, comments on the long road she had finding relief from her pain. “Before surgery, I had some nights I couldn’t sleep I was in so much pain. I spoke with a friend that had life changing back surgery with Dr. Iorio. My physician in Rochester prescribed just go to a pain clinic, because he won’t operate on me. After three years I bit the bullet and decided to have a second opinion with Dr. Iorio. He gave me my life back.”
Dr. Iorio is accepting new patients. Click here for more information about Dr. Iorio or call the SOS Spine Team at: 315-251-3232