Donation aids advancement in spinal surgery
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Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS Trust in the UK to begin using life-saving ultrasonic bone cutter tools in spinal surgery – which are precise enough to cut through the bone, leaving blood vessels, nerves and tissue undamaged.
The innovative surgical instrument - which has been hailed by neurosurgeons as an important advancement in spinal surgery – has been funded thanks to a £18,260 donation given by health insurer Westfield Health to local charity Neurocare’s Ultrasonic Bone Cutter Project.
The project funds the use of ultrasonic bone cutter tools, which have been hailed by neurosurgeons as an important advancement in spinal surgery and will be the first time this particular piece of equipment has been used in the UK.
The tools reduce the risk of trauma and blood loss during surgery.
Mr Marcel Ivonov, neurosurgeon from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are extremely excited to be the first NHS Trust in the UK to use this particular piece of equipment, which is suitable not only for open, but also for minimally invasive spinal as well as cranial procedures.
"Other surgeons from around the country will be coming to see it in use so we thank Westfield Health for their donation which will benefit our work and the lives of our patients.”
Patricia Mitchell, chief executive of Neurocare, said: “We are hugely grateful for Westfield Health’s donation and continued support in this vital area of neurosurgery.
“Bone scalpel tools enable precise cuts to be made through bones with minimal damage to the surrounding structures, so are a fantastic advancement for neurosurgery. The donation means we now have the most cutting edge equipment available making spinal surgery in particular much safer.”
Graham Moore, chairman of Westfield Health, said: “We are delighted to make a significant donation to Neurocare’s Bone Scalpel Project to help make neurosurgery safer for hospital patients.
“Patients in Sheffield and beyond will benefit from the technology. It’s fantastic to contribute towards this innovative equipment and to make a real difference to the vital work of the neurosurgeons.”
For more information about the Bone Scalpel Project, visit www.neurocare.org.uk/our-projects/current-projects.
ENDS
Picture caption: (from left to right) Mr Marcel Ivanov, neurosurgeon, Linda Elliott, senior practitioner, Graham Moore, chairman of Westfield Health, Patricia Mitchell, chief executive of Neurocare and Corin McCann, senior fundraiser at Neurocare.
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