 WHAT
IS THE Accu-SPINA™ SYSTEM?
The Accu-SPINA™ System is a unique method
that delivers a treatment called IDD Therapy® (Intervertebral
Differential Dynamics). IDD Therapy® is the most
advanced non-invasive, non-surgical treatment for low
back and neck conditions. It is a mechanized pain reduction
and healing system that has, after many years of research,
been shown to be up 86% successful in reduction of disc
herniation.
HOW
DOES THE Accu-SPINA™ WORK?
The combination
of angle of pull and an air bladder create a fulcrum
pinpointing treatment to the specific region that needs
help. IDD Therapy® creates negative pressure between
the discs, decreasing the herniation and healing the
damaged area. The system supplies alternating decompression
followed by a period of partial relaxation. Each session
on the Accu-SPINA™ equipment is approximately 35-45 minutes
long including set-up and take-off. The patient comes
for 20-30 visits over a 4-6 week period.
Who
can benefit from using Accu-SPINA™ equipment?
People with the following conditions are
ideal candidates for enrollment into the Accu-SPINA™ program
and have the potential of achieving quality outcomes
in the treatment of their back and neck pain: (1) Herniated
or Bulging Discs; (2) Nerve Compression; (3) Lumbar or
Cervical Disorders; (4) Low Back or Neck Strains; (5)
Sciatic Neuralgia (Sciatica); (6) Injury of the Lumbar
or Cervical Nerve Root; (7) Degenerative Discs (unresponsive
to four weeks of conservative therapy); (8) Spinal Arthritis;
(9) Low Back Pain w/ or w/o Sciatica; (10) Degenerative
Joint Disease; (11) Facet Syndrome; (12) Myofasciitis
Syndrome; (13) Disuse Atrophy; (14) Lumbar Instability;
(15) Acute Low Back Pain; and (16) Post-Surgical Low
Back Pain (recurrent pain from a failed back surgery
lasting more than six months).
Patients
with low back pain or neck pain who have had no success with
conventional therapy and
who are considering surgery should utilize the Accu-SPINA™. Surgery
should be considered only following a reasonable trial
of the Accu-SPINA™ System IDD Therapy® protocols.
Patients
who undergo the full four to six weeks of the treatment protocol
will obtain the best
results. A patient must be at least at least 18 years
of age to undergo Accu-SPINA™ treatment.
WILL
INSURANCE COVER Accu-SPINA™ TREATMENT?
Although the Accu-SPINA™ received FDA approval
in 2000, many insurers will not pay for spinal decompression
treatments on this or any other system. Most major insurances,
however, will cover at least a portion of the treatments
associated with our back and neck therapy protocols.
Is
TREATMENT ON THE Accu-SPINA™ SAFE?
IDD Therapy® on The Accu-SPINA™ System
is a safe procedure that can be used on patients with
Chronic Back and Neck Pain caused by Spinal Stenosis,
Degenerative Disc Disease, Herniated Discs, Bulging Discs, Slipped Discs, and Sciatica.
What
conditions should not be treated by Accu-SPINA™?
Although IDD Therapy® on The Accu-SPINA™
System is an inherently safe procedure that can be used
without complications, patients with the following problems
or symptoms are usually excluded from using the Accu-SPINA™:
Pregnancy, Prior lumbar surgical fusion, Metastatic cancer,
Compression fracture of lumbar spine below L-1, Pars
defect, Spina bifida, Aortic aneurysm, Pelvic or abdominal
cancer, Disc space infections, Severe peripheral neuropathy,
Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Cognitive dysfunction, Cauda
Equina syndrome, Tumors, Osteoid osteoma, Multiple myeloma,
Osteosarcoma, Infection, Osteomyelitis, Meningitis, Virus,
and HNP (sequestered/free floating or extruded fragment),
Severe Osteoporosis, Spondylolysis, Spondylolisthesis
(Grade 2 or higher), Vertebral fractures, Unstable post
surgical conditions, any kind of surgical hardware, pathological
lesions or congenital deformities of the vertebral column
that disrupt the integrity of the vertebral and ligamentous
structures.
WHAT
IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE Accu-SPINA™ SYSTEM AND TRACTION?
Traction disperses the pull of weights
among the majority of spinal segments reducing the
actual amount of pull necessary to create negative pressure
within each segment. Traction can also cause the adjacent
muscles to spasm placing more pressure on the disc.
The
Accu-SPINA™ isolates the specific problem disc by its
unique angle of distraction (or pull). It creates a
negative pressure within the disc space, which draws
fluid, nutrients
and oxygen into the disc helping it to heal. The unique
method by which it distracts the spinal segments eliminates
the reaction of the neighboring muscles so that they
do not spasm.
WHAT
RESULTS CAN I EXPECT?
Most patients are scheduled for 20 treatments
over a 4 to 6-week period. The typical patient may feel
relief as early as the first 5 to 8 treatments. However,
it is important to finish the entire protocol to allow
for proper healing. Pre and post treatment MRIs have
shown 50% reduction in the size and extent of herniations
after 6 weeks of treatment. Clinical studies confirm
that 86% of patients with disc problems reported relief
with Accu-SPINA™ treatment.
What
happens after a patient completes the Accu-SPINA™ SYSTEM
/ IDD Therapy® protocol?
The Accu-SPINA™ protocol of 20-25 visits
generally relieves the nerve compression syndrome and
restores functional capacity. Experience has shown that
the vast majority of patients who recover on the Accu-SPINA™
generally remain in remission. However, some individuals
whose lifestyle or work environment tend to expose them
to higher risk factors, have found that a follow-up or
maintenance program of Accu-SPINA™ treatment sessions
offers a measure of protection against disabling exacerbations
of their back pain syndrome. Patients in this category
usually develop, in consultation with their physicians,
their own rhythm of maintenance visits that keeps them
free of problems. The onset of osteoporosis, particularly
in senior patients, may also necessitate maintenance
treatments.
A maintenance program may consist of three
rehabilitation visits per week for three to four weeks
followed by two times a week for three to four weeks.
These rehabilitation visits should include moist heat,
stretching and strengthening of the lumbar spine and
legs (or neck and arms), and Osteopathic manipulation
as needed to maintain optimal spinal function.
WHY
ARE THERE SO MANY TREATMENTS AND WHY DO I HAVE TO COME
SO FREQUENTLY?
Each treatment builds on the progress made
at the previous session. Treatments are scheduled 1 to
3 days apart so as not to lose ground on that progress,
especially in the earlier sessions. Treatments at one
day apart are optimal for best results.
WHAT
CAN I DO TO HELP MY RECOVERY?
Attitude
is a very important part of healing. Maintaining optimism
is important for healing. Patients are asked to
participate in their treatment by complying with the
entire Accu-SPINA™
protocol, by following through with their exercise
programs and by using good sense in terms of minimizing
activities that worsen their pain.
Does
the Accu-SPINA™ System work for everyone?
Eighty-to-ninety percent of patients who
have been properly selected and comply with the entire
Accu-SPINA™ protocol will have good-to-excellent outcomes.
Patient conditions that do not respond quickly to the
therapy are often unable to be helped by anything quickly.
Patients vary in age, sex and body type and may require
counseling in weight loss, nutrition and other lifestyle
changes for optimal results.
What
about other therapies?
Recent studies comparing Accu-SPINA™ to
standard physical therapy including traction, exercise,
muscle stimulation, ultrasound, massage, and heat and
ice showed Accu-SPINA™ decompression to be twice as effective
in terms of perceived pain reduction, debilitating pain
reduction, cumulative strength index and overall outcome.
Did
THE FDA approve THE Accu-SPINA™ SYSTEM?
Yes,
the Accu-SPINA™ has received two (2) FDA approvals as
a Class II Medical Device with 510(k) listing: One
is for providing decompression to the lower back (lumbar
spine) and the other is for providing decompression
to
the neck (cervical spine). The Accu-SPINA™ is approved
to provide treatment for relief from pain and disability
for those patients suffering with low back pain and
neck pain associated with herniated discs, degenerative
disc
disease, and posterior facet syndrome.
Have
there been clinical trials and studies conducted on idd
therapy® and the Accu-SPINA™ SYSTEM?
Extensive clinical studies have been conducted
to validate IDD Therapy® treatment. Thousands of
back pain patients have been successfully treated. Nearly
a full year practical in-the-field analysis by participating
physicians nationwide has been conducted. The following
are samples of the published studies:
Practical
Pain Management Magazine:
C Norman Shealy, MD, PhD reviews the evolution
of back pain technology and presents results of a study
utilizing differential dynamics rehabilitation [IDD Therapy®].Based
on author's review of recent study results, inter-vertebral
differential dynamic rehabilitation appears to be the
current optimal recommendation for most lumbar pain syndromes.
America
Journal of Pain Management (AJPM) Vol. 15 No. 3 July 2005:
The study is called A Retrospective Clinical
Pilot Study: Long-term Effect Analysis of IDD Therapy® in
Low Back Pain. It was conducted by C. Norman Shealy,
MD, PhD, Nirman Koladia, MD, and Merrill M. Wesemann,
MD. The objectives of this study were (i) to produce
a follow-up to the Shealy and Borgmeyer Study, (ii) to
evaluate long-term benefits of IDD Therapy® treatment,
and (iii) to determine any benefits of IDD Therapy® in
comparison to other treatment options. The authors stated: "A
direct conclusion that can be drawn from the data is
that improvement in pain continues after the treatment
sessions are completed.
Orthopedic
Technology Review:
The study was titled: Surgical Alternatives:
Spinal Decompression and conducted by Thomas A.
Gionis, MD, JD, MBA, MHA, FICS, FRCS, and Eric Groteke,
DC, CCIC. This clinical outcomes study was performed
to evaluate the effect of spinal decompression on symptoms
and physical findings of patients with herniated and
degenerative disc disease. Results showed that 86%
of the 219 patients who completed the therapy reported
immediate resolution of symptoms, while 84% remained
pain-free 90 days post-treatment. Physical examination
findings showed improvement in 92% of the 219 patients,
and remained intact in 89% of these patients 90 days
after treatment.
6-Month
IDD Therapy® Patient
File Review:
Results of 6-month patient file review
of patients who had IDD Therapy® at Monmouth Advanced
Medicine Clinic showed 93.6% of their patients obtained
total pain relief on the Accu-SPINA™ machine.
Emory University is currently conducting
a single blind clinical trial and there are many more
in the works.
Alf
Nachemson, MD, PhD; MTG Newsletter, October 1998
Degenerative disc disease can be effectively
treated with the Accu-SPINA™ system because repeated decompression
promotes the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrients
into the vertebral disc area, thereby naturally re-hydrating
and rehabilitating degenerated discs. In the case of
disc herniation, the negative pressure may induce the
retraction of the herniated or bulging disc, leading
to relief of pain. Multiple treatment sessions on the
machine are required to achieve optimal results. *
Who
Manufactures The Accu-SPINA™ System?
North American Medical Corporation (NAM)
is the sole manufacturer of IDD Therapy® certified
medical devices, including the Accu-SPINA™ system. The
Accu-SPINA™ is the most advanced technology available
for IDD treatment.
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