Dr. Edward Perry among first surgeons in the U.S. to utilize the NuVasive® MLX cage for the treatment of degenerative disc disease

On February 23, 2017, a Swift Spine Institute Fellowship-Trained Spine Surgeon, Dr. Edward Perry, performed the MLX (Medial Lateral Expandable) Lumbar Interbody Fusion on a male patient using the NuVasive MLX system at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, NV. This is the first time this system has been used in Nevada and second case in the United States. “The MLX cage maximizes the surface area for interbody fusion, which is the entire purpose of interbody implant placement, and it’s engineering reduces complications of implantation. It is the best merging of mechanical and biologic functioning on the market today,” Dr. Perry explained just hours after the procedure.

The NuVasive MLX is intended for use at either one level or two adjacent levels in the lumbar spine, from L2 to SI, for the treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD) with up to Grade I spondylolisthesis. MLX allows the surgeon to improve the potential for fusion by obtaining a circumferential fusion surface area. Swift Spine Institute was the first in Nevada enrolled in the first generation MLX pilot study. The neurosurgeons performed 15 cases using the first generation device.

The MLX device is advantageous over traditional spinal fusions because the surgeon is able to restore intervertebral body height and decrease spondylolisthesis and degenerative instability.

Degenerative disc disease commonly occurs with age, as discs become more brittle, less resilient and more prone to herniation. Degenerative disc disease is the single most common diagnosis related to serious back and neck pain. When a disc herniates in the spine, the surgeon can sometimes simply remove a portion of the disc. In other cases, where the disc is more damaged and must be removed, something must be placed into the disc space. Otherwise, the two vertebrae will collapse on top of one another, placing pressure on the nerve roots that branch off from the spinal cord.

Swift Spine Institute takes a conservative first approach to spine care. This helps to ensure patients exhaust non-surgical treatment options, such as physical therapy and injection therapy, for a period of at least six months prior to a surgical procedure such as the NuVasive MLX – Medial Lateral Expandable Lumbar Interbody System.

About Swift Spine Institute

Swift Spine Institute is a regional center specializing in back and neck conditions. What makes Swift Spine Institute different from other treatment centers is its nonsurgical approach to back and neck problems. The multidisciplinary team approach involves nonsurgical spine physicians, spine surgeons and spine-specialized physical therapists. This means our health care team of professionals will pool together their expertise to develop the best treatment for each patient.

Swift Spine Institute includes internal physical therapy and injection therapy, X-ray and MRI capabilities — all under one roof. We provide all the necessary diagnostic testing and treatment in one place, helping to eliminate the need for multiple referrals, delayed care and confusion. Swift Spine Institute has multiple Northern Nevada offices located in Reno, Sparks and Carson City.