Spine Patient From Illinois Now Looks Forward

January 2023 - In 2019, Melisa Pulliam, 44, of Argenta, Illinois, began experiencing pain and numbness in her right arm, caused by a spinal disk herniation. Melisa underwent a surgery at a non-BJC facility to help with her pain; however, the outcome was not as desired. “I was still having a tremendous amount of pain and couldn’t hold my head up,” shares Melisa. “It was miserable.”

BJC HealthCare and Washington University Neurosurgeon Provides Help

Melisa met with another surgeon, but her condition was beyond their means. Instead, she was referred to someone who could help her: Ian Dorward, MD, a Washington University neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital.

Despite being nearly two hours away, Melisa was desperate for help. Dr. Dorward and his team reviewed her case. “It seemed Melisa had a very extensive surgery for a fairly minimal problem,” says Dr. Dorward. “She likely could have had a very simple surgery on the front of her neck but instead had the entire back of her cervical spine fused, with her head curved forward incorrectly (x-ray on left). Our procedure removed and replaced the fusion and repaired her alignment to restore her quality of life (x-ray on right).”

To remedy this, another surgery was Melisa’s only option. While Dr. Dorward couldn’t promise her complete pain relief, he could help her look forward again. To which Melisa responded, “Whatever you can do, I will be forever grateful.”

In November 2021, Melisa underwent a 9-hour surgery, which required three stages to remove and replace the fusion in the back and front of her cervical spine. It was a delicate procedure working around arteries that supply blood to the brain, which few surgeons are trained to do. Fortunately, the surgery was successful, with Dr. Dorward able to repair her alignment and restore her quality of life.

Spine Surgery Allows Patient to Return to Activities She Enjoys

“My recovery has been completely different from my first surgery. My pain level has been nothing compared to before,” shares Melisa. A nurse, mother, grandmother and runner, she has been able to return to her life before the symptoms that warranted her first surgery. “My life has changed so much. I can play with my grandson. I can work out again. I can do things that I couldn’t do before.”

The neurosurgery clinic located on the campus of Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital sees the full spectrum of spine cases. Staffed by Washington University neurosurgeons with extensive fellowship training in spine surgery, the team offers the expertise of an academic medical center in a community hospital setting. Dr. Dorward encourages patients to reach out to their primary care provider if they are experiencing symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, or changes that affect the function of their arms or hands. He also stresses the importance of always seeking a second opinion.

Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital Now Offers Robotic-assisted Spine Surgery Technology

Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital is the only hospital in St. Charles County to utilize a 3-in-1 imaging system for minimally invasive spine surgery patients. Consolidating cone-beam computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy and digital radiography into a single piece of technology eliminates the need for multiple imaging devices throughout one procedure. Using a robotic assisted device will improve implant placement accuracy, lower radiation exposure and shorten operative times. Patients suffering from back pain and spinal deformity may benefit from this treatment option if symptoms have not been relieved with other non-surgical techniques.