Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 2, 2019

KH . ORG 9 Community surgeons Jeffrey Larson, M.D., and William Ganz, M.D., use the new ExcelsiusGPS for a variety of spine procedures. Ready to try “I didn’t want to see a doctor and was scared to think of surgery as an option,” Lois said. “But my brother- in-law kept suggesting Dr. Larson, and after years of hurting I was ready to give it a try.” As it turned out, Lois had grade 2 spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one of the vertebrae slips out of place onto the bone below it. In Lois’ case, her L4 vertebrae slipped forward about 1½ centimeters onto her L5 vertebrae, narrowing her spinal canal and pinching her nerves, which caused the pain she experienced. “The most appropriate treatment was to surgically connect her two vertebrae and place a cage, or spacer, to realign her spine,” Dr. Larson said. “Then we used the ExcelsiusGPS robot to place the screws that would hold it all in place using trajectories that would otherwise not be possible.” The ExcelsiusGPS is the newest addition to Kootenai Health’s robotic arsenal. It combines a rigid robotic arm and full navigation capabilities for the most precise alignment possible. Robotic surgery offers more precision, flexibility and control than is possible with conventional techniques. Kootenai is among fewer than 50 hospitals in the U.S. and is the first in the Inland Northwest to have an ExcelsiusGPS, putting Kootenai in the forefront of image-guided neurosurgery. Feeling like herself again “My back is fantastic. It’s been over seven years since I’ve been able to walk upright without any pain,” Lois said. “I feel like myself again. My husband recently said, ‘I can’t believe my wife is back,’ and that couldn’t be more true.” In Kootenai’s growing robotics program, community surgeons have access to leading-edge technology, allowing them to perform procedures in the areas of neurosurgery, urology, gynecology and general surgery. “I’m grateful to have walked into this program,” Dr. Larson said. “Kootenai had just purchased the ExcelsiusGPS before I started, and it’s a game- changer for us. Kootenai has been a leader in image-guided neurosurgery for years, and the ExcelsiusGPS robot expands our existing treatment options. Dr. William Ganz and I are excited to see where this technology takes us and to watch our local neurosurgery program grow.” Get relief Want to learn more about robotic surgery at Kootenai Health? Visit KH.org/ roboticsurgery . Dr. Larson is a provider at Coeur d’Alene Spine and Brain. You can learn more about his practice by visiting cdaspine.com . Dr. Ganz is a provider at Neurosurgery and Spine Northwest. Learn more at brainandspinecda.com .