Released on = March 18, 2007, 8:57 pm

Press Release Author = Ventura Spine

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = While performing cutting edge disc replacement surgery, two
local spine surgeons were paid a visit by the inventor of the device.

Press Release Body = VENTURA COUNTY, CA. March 15, 2007. - Dr. Samuel Small and
Dr. Brian Rudin welcomed French surgeon and inventor, Dr. Thierry Marnay, into the
operating room to evaluate their techniques implanting a revolutionary device
designed to relieve back pain from degenerative discs.

Marnay, a French orthopedic surgeon, developed the mobile device, known as the
Prodisc. It is designed to reproduce the motion of a normal, healthy disc. The
Prodisc, is implanted through a minimally-invasive incision in the abdomen, after
the painful, worn out disc is carefully removed.

Dr. Marnay, watched Rudin and Small perform two separate surgeries. At the end of
the day, Marnay commented in a thick French accent, "looks perfect, you get an A+."


The Prodisc is made of the same materials as other joint replacement implants, metal
and polyethylene. These time-proven materials are what have been used in
orthopedics for over three decades. The track record of these materials is very
well established in the demanding environment of hip and knee replacements.
Surgeons are able to replace an arthritic disc much like a typical hip or knee
replacement.

While spinal fusion has traditionally been the treatment of choice for chronic back
pain from damaged discs, the advent of artificial disc replacements, has allowed
surgeons to avoid fusions and retain patient's mobility. Compared to spinal fusion,
artificial disc recipients recover faster, return to work sooner, and have far
better mobility.

Artificial disc replacements have been used with tremendous success in Europe for
over 15 years. In the US, with the approval of the Synthes Prodisc implant,
surgeons are seeing the same benefits to patients as their overseas counterparts.

Patients who suffer from chronic low back pain, due to worn out discs are encouraged
to ask their doctors about the procedure or visit www.VenturaSpine.net for more
information.


Web Site = http://www.VenturaSpine.net

Contact Details = Connie Keeter
Office Manager
Ventura Spine
1700 N. Rose Ave #260
Oxnard, CA 93030
805-981-6337