The Spine Center News

Dr. Paul Visits Australia to Share Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

P. Ronjon Paul, MD, a spinal surgeon with DuPage Medical Group and Edward Hospital, recently shared his expertise in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) with physician peers in Australia. He spoke at the Spine Society of Australia’s (SSA) 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting and met directly with surgeons eager to learn and adopt MIS procedures into their practices.  During the April 15-19 visit with Australian spine surgeons, Dr. Paul presented case examples, lectured, and attended two surgeries. He met with surgeons in Melbourne, Brisbane, and on the Gold Coast. Much of the emphasis of the presentations was on indications and avoidance of complications. Spine surgeons in Australia have been rapidly adopting MIS surgery, like their peers in the United States.

“The surgeons seemed open and eager to learn,” said Dr. Paul. “They were very appreciative of receiving information that was candid and scientific, but also personal with regards to incorporating MIS into an established practice.  The opportunity to help foster minimally invasive surgery abroad was a real honor.”  Dr. Paul spoke about his initial experiences with MIS surgery, described how he adopted it into his practice, cited case examples, and discussed common patient indications.  “I described how my early skepticism turned into enthusiasm over my first year working with the procedure,” said Dr. Paul. “The cases provided examples of significant deformity and spondylolisthesis reduction on a wide array of patients. I also discussed complication avoidance.”

There are many benefits with MIS surgery. Recovery for patients can be quicker than traditional “open” surgeries that typically involve more tissue disruption and larger incisions to access the spine. This can lead to earlier release from hospitals and the return to normal activities such as standing and walking.  “MIS procedures offer a safe and effective, less invasive alternative to traditional or open spine surgery,” said Dr. Paul.  “They provide greater access to the spine, better visualization during surgery, less tissue disruption and related blood loss, and as a result, the potential for faster recovery times.  And, with success, the best part is patients are no longer suffering from back and leg pain.”

Dr. Paul has established himself as an expert in the area of MIS spine surgery, and was among the first surgeons in the Midwest with experience performing the eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®) procedure. Through his efforts, The Spine Center of DuPage Medical Group along with Edward Hospital has become a national teaching center for MIS spinal surgery with surgeons visiting regularly to observe Dr. Paul performing procedures.  He has taught over 200 neurosurgeons and spinal surgeons from around the United States, as well as Asia and Europe and has presented similar talks at teaching centers in the United Kingdom.

Surgeon Background

Dr. Paul brings a well known reputation for excellent outcomes and cutting-edge experience to DuPage Medical Group. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, he has become a leader in the field of reconstructive cervical and lumbar spinal surgery with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Paul has a rapidly growing reputation in the area of “lateral access surgery” to the lumbar spine.  Dr. Paul has been an award-winning researcher in genetic tissue engineering for degenerative disc disease and other spinal disorders. He has published his findings in major medical journals and presented at many national and regional medical conferences.  He has become a favorite among the area’s physicians and families and has treated patients from throughout the Chicagoland area and as far away as Asia.

Dr. Paul serves as medical director of the Spine Center of DuPage Medical Group and is Chair of the Spinal Surgery Section at Edward Hospital. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a teaching member for the Society of Lateral Access Surgery. He is a charter member of the Lumbar Spine Research Society and is a member of the charter class of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. He is affiliated with Good Samaritan and Edward Hospitals.  Dr. Paul has offices located at 120 Spalding Dr., Suite 400, on the campus of Edward Hospital in Naperville and 1801 S. Highland Ave. in Lombard.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul, please call (630) 967-2225.

August 8, 2010

Back to normal: Minimally invasive procedures help Edward spine patients treat the pain

Dr. Ronjon Paul, a spine surgeon, has performed a variety of minimally invasive procedures for nearly seven years and has taught many of the techniques to more than 200 surgeons in the U.S. and United Kingdom.

Dr. Paul has one of the leading minimally invasive spine practices in the region.  He is one of only a few spine surgeons in the Midwest who perform the XLIF procedure, more of which are performed at Edward than any other hospital in the Chicago area. Dr. Paul often takes referrals from neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons for their more complicated cases.  His patients have come from all over Chicagoland, downstate Illinois, northwest Indiana, Wisconsin, Louisiana, California, even Taiwan.

Click here to read the full news article in TRIB Local - Naperville

May 27, 2009

Spinal Surgery Workshop

Dr. Ronjon Paul of Spinal Surgery Section was recently asked to be featured at a workshop faculty at a recent course on May 15, 2009, and May 16, 2009, at the Spine Masters Institute in Burr Ridge, Illinois.

Sponsored by the Scoliosis Research Society, the course featured advanced minimally invasive spine surgery skills to spinal surgeons from around the country and abroad, including Brazil, Mexico and Korea.

Of note, Dr. Paul has been involved in teaching four other courses within the past year alone, and has helped teach over 150 surgeons minimally invasive spine surgical techniques. He currently has Chicagoland’s largest minimally invasive lateral access lumbar fusion experience and routinely performs complex lumbar spine reconstructive surgery in this manner.

Dr. Paul flew to England the week of June 1st to lecture and perform surgery at three major medical centers in the London area.

Dr. Paul is currently engaged in a landmark study utilizing Mesenchymal stem cell-based technologies for lumbar fusions via minimally invasive lateral access approaches.

For more information on Dr. Paul, please see Dr. Paul’s biography.

Dr. Paul Conducts eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) Training Course

Dr. Ronjon Paul conducted an eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) training course at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois on February 2, 2008. Neuro and Spinal Surgeons were in attendance from across the Midwest to learn from Dr. Paul how the XLIF procedure for lumbar fusion approaches the spine from the side of the body instead of from the front or back. This approach to the spine is as minimally disruptive as possible and optimizes the patients’ recovery.

Patient benefits for the XLIF procedure are:

• Reduced operative time – Traditional procedures can take up to 5 hours; the XLIF procedure can be successfully completed in as little as 45 minutes, reducing the amount of anesthesia time.
• Reduced blood loss and minimal scarring – Less-invasive procedure allows for less tissue disruption, resulting in reduced blood loss.
• Reduced postoperative pain – The XLIF procedure does not require entry through sensitive back muscles, bones, or ligaments. Many patients are usually walking the same day after surgery.
• Reduced hospital stay – Patients are typically walking the same day after surgery and require only an overnight stay in the hospital, compared to several days of immobility and hospitalization typical of traditional open approaches.
• Rapid return to normal activity – Patients are usually walking the same day after surgery. Recovery is typically around 6 weeks, compared to 6 months or more.

An accomplished XLIF surgeon and an active Society of Lateral Access member, Dr. Paul is the most experienced XLIF physician with the highest volume in the Chicagoland area. He is one of the few physicians hand selected to train in Brazil under the pioneer of the XLIF procedure. Dr. Paul is a proctor for the XLIF classes on the west coast and he also proctored several local training courses for physicians in his peer group. He routinely has surgeons visit his Operating Room to observe the XLIF procedures. Dr. Ronjon Paul practices at The Spine Center of DuPage Medical Group, located at the Edward Medical Physician Center 120 Spalding Drive Naperville, IL, 630 469 9200.

Watch a video about eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)

 

DuPage Medical Group in Naperville at Edward Medical Physician Center 100 Spalding Drive Naperville, IL 60540 630 967 2225

DuPage Medical Group in Lombard on Highland Ave 1801 S. Highland Avenue Lombard, IL 60148 630 967 2225

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