Highland Park’s Dr .Frank Phillips of Rush is a pioneer in turning inpatient spinal surgery into “same day” procedures. Techniques he helped develop will benefit hundreds of thousands who get back pain surgery yearly.
The Highland Park resident is Co-Director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute (MISI) at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. He says, “We’re talking about replacing a five day hospital stay and two quarts of blood loss to same day or overnight status and minimal blood loss. In some ways this is a bigger leap than same day hip or knee replacement.”
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His groundbreaking research affects anyone with back pain, neck pain, bulging discs and sciatica who now typically receive open surgeries. These same patients can now receive proven less invasive procedures with a smaller incision, faster recovery, and far less pain (since the muscles surrounding the spine are preserved.) Although the benefits of less-invasive surgery seem apparent, critics counter that traditional open invasive surgery gives equivalent results for about the same cost.
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Now, however, Dr. Phillips most recent study showed the minimally invasive group had faster operations, shorter hospital stays, and less blood loss. As a result the group saved $6,248 per patient in hospital costs.
This is the latest of dozens of papers written by Drs. Phillips. Almost all demonstrate the benefits of this new approach. The surgeon helped developed these techniques and travels worldwide teaching them to colleagues. He’s received numerous honors for their contributions including being voted among the top 28 spine surgeons in America (Orthopedics This Week), the top 100 spine surgeons (Becker’s Orthopedics and Spine) and top 10% of spine surgeons (US News & World Report).
Dr. Phillips co-founded the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Rush in 2012. (One guest at their opening was former NBA star, and patient, Bill Walton. Before his minimally invasive spinal fusion procedure, he says his back pain had nearly driven him to suicide.) The center is America’s premier academic institute devoted solely to less invasive spinal care.
Anyone who wants more information about the institute can call 855-774-6302 or visit the institute here.
