VAX-D Over Surgery: Corporations and Employees Both Benefit

Dr. David C. Duncan, M.D., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, collaborated with a local oil refinery in an effort to compare the costs and benefits of VAX-D versus surgery for refinery employees suffering from low back injuries.  The 10-person case study revealed that, for the individuals studied, the cost of surgery was almost nine times more than the cost of VAX-D, and had less desirable recovery outcomes as well. 

Dr. Duncan, who has been using VAX-D in his practice for over 20 years, recalls how other patients have benefited from using VAX-D:

“I treated a patient who was on disability and in a wheelchair with a cervical support.  She is now employed, and has no more need for a wheelchair, crutches, or a cane.  Over the last two decades, I have successfully treated multiple patients iwth lumbar disc disease.  Very few have gone on to surgery.  all things being equal, VAX-D is my first choice for chronic and semi-acute back injuries.”

 

Laser Spine Institute Shuts Down Permanently

 

By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

The Laser Spine Institute, which once ran a nationwide chain of surgery centers that specialized in “minimally invasive” spinal procedures, has abruptly ceased operations due to financial problems.

The company had four remaining surgery centers in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Scottsdale and Tampa, Florida, where it is headquartered. It recently closed three other surgery centers in an effort to control costs and restructure.

Despite “significant cost saving” in recent months, Laser Spine Institute said in a new release that it was “unable to attract the necessary financing” to continue operating while it sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. About 600 employees are affected.

“My heart goes out to our great, dedicated staff who have stuck with us through all of our adversity and worked so tirelessly to help us right the ship,” said Jake Brace, Laser Spine Institute’s CEO, who was brought in last year to help restructure the company.

The company said it would contact patients slated for surgery and those in post-operative care and refer them to other medical facilities in their area.

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Laser Spine Institute treated patients with neck and back pain caused by spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, bone spurs, herniated discs, sciatica and other chronic conditions.

Although it claimed to have 98% patient satisfaction rate, the company was hit with dozens of malpractice lawsuits, including one by superstar wrestler Hulk Hogan, who claimed its treatments were ineffective and cost him $50 million in lost revenue. Hogan reportedly settled out of court for $10 million.

Last year the family of a Pennsylvania woman who died hours after being discharged from a Laser Spine Institute surgery center was awarded $20 million in a wrongful death lawsuit.

A competing surgery center also sued Laser Spine Institute for offering illegal incentives to patients, such as paying for their airfare and hotel expenses, which is prohibited under Medicare guidelines. Nine surgeons told Bloomberg Businessweek that the company was doing spinal surgeries that were often unnecessary or inappropriate.

Below are pre- and post-MRIs of an actual VAX-D patient with both a herniated disc and a degenerative disc.  Before treatment, the herniated disc protruded into the spinal canal, and the degenerative disc was thin and lacking the protective cushioning that is so needed in our spine.  After treatment, the once-extruded disc material has been literally “sucked” back into place, and the degenerated disc has gained impressive height.

Before VAX-D…

Figure 1.

  1. Severe herniation at L4-L5.
  2. Degenerative disc at L5-S1.
  3. Straightening due to spasm.

After VAX-D…

Figure 2.

  1. Herniation is reduced at L4-L5
  2. Rehydration of L5-S1 disc with increase in disc height.
  3. Improvement in lordotic curve.