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Article Category: PeopleCare

UlyssesCare

Getting back in action after spine surgery

Published on March 11, 2022

Last updated 02:33 PM December 14, 2022

Ulysses Price holding a tennis racquet.

If you looked up the word “active” in the dictionary, you just might find Ulysses Price’s picture.

Between serving on the tennis court, racking up strikes in bowling and learning new moves in martial arts, he defines life by what brings him the most joy: movement.

But all that changed when severe neck and shoulder pain entered the picture. Ulysses could barely do a double take let alone hold play doubles on the court.

“Not being able to do simple things like reach for a bowl in the cupboard or turn my neck were big limitations in my life,” Ulysses said. “I tried to tough it out. But when the pain was non-stop, that’s when I decided I needed medical attention.”

Ulysses turned to Wellstar’s neuro experts to help him take control of his health. Now, after a state-of-the-art neck procedure, Ulysses is back in action and doing his favorite activities — even better than before.

From diagnosis to surgery and recovery, Ulysses formed a lasting partnership with his Wellstar care team and knows he can face any health hurdle with confidence.

Health providers who have your back

When pain became a constant part of Ulysses’ life, he sought help from his Wellstar primary care provider.

Ulysses' provider took his pain seriously. After an MRI revealed a serious spinal issue, he connected Ulysses with expert neuro care at Wellstar right away.

That’s when Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Phillip Parry joined the team, determined to help put an end to Ulysses’ pain. Dr. Parry stressed how important primary care providers are when it comes to keeping a keen eye out for potential medical issues.

“The value of having a primary care provider who can identify neck and low back pain cannot be overstated,” Dr. Parry said. “Having these conditions addressed early by the right specialists is extremely important.”

Catching neurological conditions at the start is key to helping patients have the best outcome possible. The same was true for Ulysses, whose spine issues were interfering with his everyday life.

“Ulysses had a narrowing in the cervical canal of his cervical spine, the bony portion through which the spinal cord is transmitted,” Dr. Parry said. “As we age, virtually all patients develop some amount of this compression.”

“In Ulysses’ case, his spinal compression had become so severe that it was causing spinal cord dysfunction,” Dr. Parry explained. “His condition resulted in weakness in his hands, being unable to walk with confidence and feeling very unstable on his feet.”

Working together, the pair discussed the potential treatment options for his pain. Because Dr. Parry always kept an open dialogue, Ulysses felt comfortable being an active participant in his care.

“I always try to be proactive about any medical procedure and do my research to know as much about it as possible,” Ulysses said, sharing how Dr. Parry took time to answer his questions. “Dr. Parry listened and spoke with me about the most up-to-date procedures, and that made me quite comfortable with him as a person and a physician.”

Soon, they created a care plan that would help Ulysses live his healthiest life for years to come.

After the surgery, I felt like a human being again — like I could go out and do things and not be in pain. I feel whole again.

- Ulysses Price

Wellstar Neuro Care Patient

State-of-the-art spine surgery

Our neuro experts work with patients to find personalized solutions for their pain, whether it requires a surgical intervention or not. Due to the severity of Ulysses’ spine issues and lifestyle, surgery made sense.

“Ulysses is an incredibly active person. His ability to do all the things that made his life meaningful — like playing tennis, running 5Ks and traveling — was negatively impacted by neck pain and cervical spinal cord compression,” Dr. Parry said.

“Given the amount of neurological dysfunction he was experiencing, surgery was the appropriate next step in his situation,” Dr. Parry explained how the procedure was the right choice.

To correct the issue, Ulysses received an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center.

For this procedure, a neurosurgeon performs the surgery through the front of the neck and removes the damaged discs. The impaired discs are replaced with bone grafts and fastened in place with a plate and screws.

This cutting-edge surgery helps relieve pressure in the spine and can alleviate other symptoms like pain, weakness, tingling and numbness.

“We were able to perform the procedure in a minimally-invasive fashion with maximal positive impacts to his overall condition,” Dr. Parry added.

“Minimally-invasive surgery focuses on small incisions which allows for fantastic post-operative results, while also lessening the damage to the area, blood loss and the amount of post-operative pain,” Dr. Parry said, explaining the benefits to less invasive procedures.

“In Ulysses’ case, he was up and walking the same day as surgery and discharged the next day,” Dr. Parry added.

It wasn’t just the expert care that made the difference in Ulysses’ healing and recovery. He found comfort and support from his Wellstar team every step of the way.

“I was very happy to have Dr. Parry on my team,” Ulysses said, sharing his positive experience. “He put me totally at ease and told me exactly what would happen, so I knew what to expect.”

“All of the nurses and caretakers were also very attentive,” he said. “They took time to explain all of my medications and everything that was required for recovery like how to sit with my neck to avoid any complications.”

Because of the cutting-edge, minimally-invasive techniques used in the surgery, his recovery time was quicker compared to other types of traditional open procedures. For Ulysses, that meant getting back to living a full life, faster.

Stopping pain in its tracks

Since the surgery, Ulysses’ recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. Rehabilitation has helped rebuild and enhance his ability to do daily activities.

“Physical and occupational therapy allowed Ulysses to regain confidence in his walking ability as well as regain strength in his hands and arms,” Dr. Parry said.

Since then, Ulysses has been on the mend and taking major strides towards healing. The life-changing surgery gave Ulysses a fresh start, allowing him to pursue all of his passions, pain-free.

“Before the surgery, I had a lack of mobility and lost range of motion in my arm. It was down to about 20 percent,” Ulysses said. “After the surgery, I was able to do all the simple things again. I can do all my hobbies just as well or better than before the surgery.”

“Identifying Ulysses’ condition early and having surgery to correct the problems he was experiencing, resulted in a near complete resolution of his symptoms and return to a better quality of life,” Dr. Parry added.

During each step of his recovery, he’s gotten many aspects of his life back again, too.

“After the surgery, I felt like a human being again — like I could go out and do things and not be in pain,” Ulysses said, sharing how the surgery impacted his quality of life. “I realized how blessed and happy I was to just feel ‘normal’ again.”

Wellstar knows treating complex neck and spine issues aren’t just about the pain. It’s about helping people live life again like Ulysses is doing today.

“I feel whole again.”

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Phillip Vaughan Parry Sr Kennestone Regional Medical Center Neuro Care
PeopleCare Primary Care
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Back to school after receiving highly coordinated stroke care at Wellstar, Assistant Principal De'sa Fuller, enters her office to start a new school year.

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De'sa Fuller, an assistant principal in West Georgia, greeted teachers in the hallway like every other morning. But her day turned upside down when she lost her balance and couldn’t rise from the floor. Thanks to the immediate actions of those around her—from the teacher who called 911 to emergency medical services and her Wellstar team—De’sa recovered and is back to school. Her story is a powerful testament to how recognizing symptoms of a stroke, calling for help right away and having highly coordinated care can lead to remarkable outcomes.

Getting help when things go wrong

At 34, De'sa Fuller was living a vibrant life. She was a 6th grade assistant principal at Gardner Middle School in LaGrange. She loved her job, enjoyed traveling and was saving up to buy her first home. April 15 started out like any other day. Smoothie in hand, she greeted teachers in the hallway as she made her way to her office.

“I felt a little off,” De'sa recalled. “I just thought I was going too fast—I didn’t put much thought into it.” Then she fell. A concerned teacher asked if she was okay. De'sa, thinking she had simply tripped, said “Yes.” Her vision blurred as she tried to get up and she fell again. “I said, ‘I am not okay.’”

What began as a typical morning turned into a race against time. One teacher's quick thinking to call 911 activated a rapid chain of events that would save De’sa from permanent disability.

The critical first minutes

“The ambulance got there quickly. It was like they were around the corner,” De'sa remembered. 

“We got a call that EMS was bringing in a female who had been found on the floor at work, experiencing right-sided weakness,” explained Ginger Truitt, stroke coordinator at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, a Primary Stroke Center. The EMS professionals also reported confusion, headache and vomiting. “Those symptoms suggest stroke. We activated quickly.”

As a result, Dr. Reginald “Ashley” Orr, an emergency medicine physician, was ready for her arrival. 

“I was worried about an acute stroke by their description of her symptoms,” he remembered. “I evaluated her on the stretcher when she came through the door.”

A Code FAST was called with the goal of speeding up the time to start treatment to improve De’sa’s chances for better outcomes. They skipped the emergency department and took her for a CT scan. Then she was seen by the onsite neurologist, and the team quickly administered tenectoplase—or TNK—a clot-busting drug.

“Her symptoms were markedly improved,” Dr. Orr noted. “She was more awake.”

However, the CT angiogram showed an MCA M1 occlusion—a blockage in a major blood vessel in the brain. While she had shown some improvement, it wasn’t enough. De'sa needed a thrombectomy, a procedure to remove the clot and restore vital blood flow to the brain.

 

A seamless transfer

De’sa needed an immediate transfer to a thrombectomy center, and there are only a few in the state of Georgia. After a quick virtual consult with Dr. Ovais Inamullah, a telestroke neurologist at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center—a Comprehensive Stroke Center—she was accepted for transfer. The Marietta-based Neuro Care program performs one of the highest volumes of thrombectomy and aneurysm treatments in the country.

Because time is of the essence with successful stroke treatment, transport by air is preferred. However, weather conditions threatened the flight’s safety. The ground EMS crew dutifully stood by in case they needed to drive De’sa. 

Mercifully, the clouds lifted after a few tense moments and she began her trip to Wellstar Kennestone via helicopter.

“When we have this type of emergency, our goal is to get patients out the door for a thrombectomy in 90 minutes,” Ginger said. “In De’sa’s case, we did it in 102 minutes, which was still impressive because there was cloud cover and we weren’t sure at first if she would be able to fly.”

Upon arrival, De'sa was taken directly to the angio suite where Dr. Ahmad Khaldi, a Wellstar neurosurgeon, and his team were waiting. “Every minute counts,” he emphasized.

A thrombectomy is a procedure that treats a stroke without open brain surgery. A tiny catheter is threaded through a blood vessel in the arm or leg to the brain to remove a clot, restoring blood flow to help prevent permanent disability or even death.

“We finished surgery by 11:25 AM,” Dr. Khaldi said—just 20 minutes after the procedure began.

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New Robotic Surgery System at Wellstar Kennestone Brings Next-Level Care to the Community

Touch-sensitive technology. More precision. Better surgical images. A new robotic surgery platform at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center features all this and more. What does that mean for people in our community facing a complex surgery? Everything.

The Da Vinci 5 (DV5) platform allows experienced surgeons at Wellstar Kennestone to be even more precise during delicate procedures. Patients bleed less, heal with smaller scars and usually go home sooner.

“At Wellstar Kennestone, we’re redefining what’s possible in surgical care,” said Lorrie Liang, senior vice president and president of Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Windy Hill. “The DV5 demonstrates that we’re not just adopting advanced technology—we are advancing the standard of care across the region.”

What is robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery. The surgeon sits at a console and controls robotic arms equipped with tiny instruments. A 3D camera magnifies the surgical area. This allows the surgeon to see everything in high definition.

Wellstar Kennestone is one of the first hospitals in Georgia to offer the DV5. However, robotic surgery is not new at the hospital. Our surgeons began using Da Vinci Surgical System platforms in 2007. Today, we offer 17 state-of-the-art Da Vinci robotic surgical suites at several hospitals and two outpatient surgery centers. We use the system for many surgeries, including bariatric (weight loss), cancer and urology procedures.

A clear difference

Dr. Fritz Jean-Pierre has performed more than 2,500 bariatric surgeries in his career. And he’s excited about what the DV5 offers.

“The DV5 allows the surgeon to sense how much push-or-pull force they apply to delicate structures in the body,” said Dr. Jean-Pierre. “Essentially, the technology stops surgeons from putting too much strain on tissues as they maneuver the instruments. Less strain means less trauma and potential injury, leading to faster patient recovery.”

Dr. Jean-Pierre tailors surgery to each patient’s unique needs. The bariatric surgery he performs most often is the gastric sleeve. It involves removing a large portion of the stomach to limit food intake. Precision is essential, especially for patients who weigh more or have complex health conditions.

“After removing part of the stomach, the surgeon reconstructs the gastrointestinal tract. We use many sutures (stitches) to hold everything in place,” he said. “DV5 provides superior dexterity and control, leading to shorter, safer surgeries.”

Intuitive Surgical, the company that created the Da Vinci platform, designated Wellstar Kennestone as an “epicenter” for training in 2011. Surgeons from around the country come to Wellstar Kennestone to observe and learn robotic surgical techniques from Dr. Jean-Pierre and his colleagues.

The impact on outcomes

The DV5 allows surgeons to be more precise than ever, which affects patient outcomes. Dr. Scott Miller, a Wellstar urologist explained.

“The DV5 is ideal for many urologic procedures, such as prostate and kidney removal, bladder surgery and urinary tract reconstruction,” he said. “The improved range-of-motion and visualization features help us protect healthy tissues and nerves. As a result, we can lower the risk of serious side effects like infections and problems with bladder control and sexual function.”

Learn more about robotic surgery at Wellstar.

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Robert, a new grandfather, poses proudly with his daughter and her infant son. With Wellstar helping him manage his HCM, he can keep making memories with his growing family.

PeopleCare

RobertCare

Robert Frederick was living a typical life, going to work and spending time with his mother, siblings and children. But then it became hard to breathe when walking short distances or climbing stairs. He got dizzy. Perhaps most disturbingly, he passed out several times—once at a Braves baseball game he attended with his siblings.

"I didn't know what was going on!" Robert recalled.

Difficulty controlling AFib with medication

After passing out the first time, he went to urgent care and was then taken to the hospital by ambulance. He learned his symptoms were caused by atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat.

Robert began to see Dr. David Caras, a Wellstar general cardiologist, and learned AFib is related to high blood pressure. Successfully managing high blood pressure often helps people keep AFib under control. Despite their efforts, AFib sent Robert to the emergency room two more times.

Suspicion of HCM

Dr. Caras reviewed Robert’s hospital records and found he had increased wall thickness of the left ventricle and a gradient—a pressure difference between the left ventricle and the aorta when the heart pumps. These findings were consistent with a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Characterized by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, this disease makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively.

Dr. Caras referred Robert to Dr. Melissa Burroughs, an HCM specialist at Wellstar. As a Center of Excellence designated by the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, Wellstar is one of the leading providers of comprehensive HCM care in Metro Atlanta.

"We have physicians in the group—designated HCM specialists—that are the point person of the patient’s care," Dr. Burroughs explained. “This includes close communication and collaboration with electrophysiologists, surgeons, advanced heart failure specialists, social workers and behavioral health professionals.”

A rare finding leads to Mayo Clinic Care Network collaboration

Robert said, “Dr. Burroughs wanted to do genetic testing to verify that I had HCM."

But genetic testing revealed a rare genetic variant—one not known to be associated with HCM. Dr. Burroughs called it a “diagnostic conundrum.” The genetic variant found was typically associated with a different cardiac disease that Robert did not have. However, he did have clear signs of HCM.

To investigate further, Dr. Burroughs collaborated with other HCM experts through the Mayo Clinic Care Network, of which Wellstar is a member. Mayo Clinic, which is also an HCM Center of Excellence, provided access to its unpublished database, finding Robert’s rare mutation was present in two other family groups with HCM.

“It’s very important that we add to the science—that we include our patients in the registry to enhance what is already known about HCM,” Dr. Burroughs said.

Robert added, “Dr. Burroughs is very persistent. She wanted to know, ‘Why are you having these problems? What’s the root cause?’ She went above and beyond to find that out.”

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