[Wiltse Memorial Hospital] Reserch in unsolved spine diseases and world-class spine treament
- Name 관리자
- Date 2021-12-27
Reserch in unsolved spine diseases and world-class spine treament
First-generation leader in the development of minimally invasive spine surgery in Korea
Wiltse Memorial Hospital opened in 2002 with the vision of “Research in unsolved spine diseases and world-class spine treatment.” The Spine Center of the hospital mainly focuses on degenerative spine conditions such as lumbar spinal stenosis and spinal disc herniation. With successful clinical results in revision surgeries, spine deformity, tumors, and other refractory spine diseases, the hospital is on its way to becoming Korea’s best medical care center for spine diseases.
Director Choon Keun Park of Wiltse Memorial Hospital is the first-generation pioneer in minimally invasive spine surgery in Korea. With the belief that a detailed and delicate surgery technique is the key to faster patient recovery, he proved the effectiveness of minimally invasive spine surgery with clinical results and research data.
Some of the main reasons why people believe spine surgeries are dangerous are because of possible risks of inflammation, complications, doubts on recovery, or simply rumors. Director Choon Keun Park took the initiative in reducing the fear and anxiety related to spine surgeries with many papers and symposiums that shared the advantages of minimally invasive spine surgeries, including minimal damage to the surrounding tissues and quick recovery.
Raised the status of Korea’s medical technology with 340 paper presentations and global healthcare
For the past 20 years, based on the accumulated clinical data, the medical personnel at Wiltse Memorial Hospital have presented and addressed 340 conference papers including those published in SCI journals, and shared their medical techniques at domestic and global conferences. A yearly average of 20 to 30 international medical personnel visit the hospital from Russia, Central Asia, China, Mongolia, India, or Vietnam in order to learn advanced spinal surgery. As part of the international medical project of Gyeonggi-do, an average of approximately 500 foreigners per year, including those living in Korea, have been treated. Full-time coordinators who can speak Russian, English, or Mongolian are standing by to facilitate the entire process without the potential barriers that may come from language or cultural differences.
As of 2021, a total of 30 medical personnel including 14 specialists in spinal neurosurgery are present at Wiltse Memorial Hospital. The hospital conducts 2,500 to 3,000 cases of spine surgery annually, and continues to improve its level of expertise and quality of medical services with ongoing efforts including joint research with other spine specialized hospitals such as Spine Centers of university- affiliated hospitals.
Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery at Wiltse Memorial Hospital
Two holes sized approximately 7 mm are made without cuts. One hole is for the endoscope to identify the problematic lesion, and the other hole is for the surgical instruments. It is possible to treat the root of the problem with the endoscope, such as a thick ligament, distorted bones, inelastic disc, and unstable spines.
Advantages
-Possible to accurately remove the cause of pain.
-Minimizes muscle damage without cuts or general anesthesia.
-Short surgery, and minimal pain and bleeding.
-Minimizes complications for quicker recovery after surgery.
-May be conducted on elderly patients.
Although there are many advantages, the surgery is not an easy process. Surgeons in charge of biportal endoscopic spine surgeries must have a deep understanding of the spine and sufficient experience in spine and endoscopic surgeries.
