slp3D presents: St. Luke's Medical Center to Conduct Live Spine Fusion Broadcast Operation of Cervical Discectomy with Fusion Anterior Approach.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2004

Live Webcast February 10th, 12 Noon CST, http://www.OR-Live.com

Millions of people suffer from pain in their necks or arms. A common cause of cervical pain is a rupture or herniation of one or more of the cervical discs. This happens when the annulus of the disc tears and the soft nucleus squeezes out. As a result, pressure is placed on the nerve root or the spinal cord and causes pain in the neck, shoulders, arms and sometimes the hands. Cervical disc herniations can occur as a result of aging, wear and tear, or sudden stress like from an accident. An anterior cervical discectomy is the most common surgical procedure to treat damaged cervical discs. Its goal is to relieve pressure on the nerve roots or on the spinal cord by removing the ruptured disc.

Nationally recognized Neurosurgeons at St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, the state's largest tertiary hospital, will webcast an innovative surgical procedure, Cervical Discectomy with Fusion Anterior Approach (ACDF), Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 12 Noon(CST) at http://www.OR-Live.com. Dr. Arvind Ahuja, Chairman of the Section of Neurosurgery at St. Luke's, will perform the operation.

Dr. Shekhar Dagam will narrate the "interactive" procedure. Participants can communicate directly with Drs. Ahuja and Dagam into the operating room at St Luke's Medical Center during this CME and CEU event to ask questions and discuss the procedure.

Following this webcast, participants should be better able to:

-- Discuss the history and rational for ACDF as a spine fusion technique

-- Recognize the relative points of value using the anterior approach compound to other traditional approaches

-- Cite the basic technique and materials used in an ACDF procedure

-- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using allografts vs. autografts bone sterilizers for cervical fusion

The Webcast is open for viewing by the general public; registration is required for CME and CEU participants.

St. Luke's Medical Center is a part of Aurora Health Care, a not-for-profit Wisconsin health care provider and a nationally recognized leader in efforts to improve the quality of health care. Aurora offers services at sites in 80 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin.