Historic surgery

In what is being described as a groundbreaking medical milestone for Jamaica and the wider English-speaking Caribbean, Andrews Memorial Hospital Limited (AMH) successfully performed what it said was the region’s first lumbar (lower back) disc-replacement surgery on April 11, marking a significant advancement in regional spinal healthcare.

Dr J. Geoffrey Liburd, chief of neurosurgery at AMH, led the surgery. Liburd is a specialist neurosurgeon and spinal surgeon trained at The University of the West Indies, Leeds General Infirmary in the United Kingdom, and Yale University in the United States.

The surgeon, who hails from St Kitts and Nevis, described the case as a success.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), and Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Intervertebral discs act as cushions between the spinal vertebrae, facilitating movement and absorbing shock. Over time, or due to injury or occupational stress, these discs can degenerate or become damaged, causing back pain, leg pain, weakness, or loss of mobility. While conservative treatments like physical therapy often help, surgery may be necessary in some cases.”

Liburd’s approach with his patient was to replace the damaged disc with an artificial implant, thereby preserving natural spinal motion.

First in Jamaica

Disc replacement is not a new occurrence for AMH or Liburd. Several cases of cervical (neck) disc replacements have been successfully done at AMH and in the Eastern Caribbean by Liburd. However, the hospital said this lumbar disc replacement was the first in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean.

“This procedure has been used safely and effectively in countries like the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia since its introduction in the 1990s and is now being offered right here in Jamaica,” said Liburd.

The complex surgery was a collaboration between local and international medical professionals. Notably, Dr Andy Redmond, a Yale-trained neurosurgeon from St Kitts and Nevis, currently practising in Texas, US; neurosurgeons Dr Dwaine Cooke and Dr Ronette Goodluck-Tyndall; general surgeon Dr Cherian Cherian and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Joseph Blidgen assisted as access surgeons and Dr Jason Toppin as the anaesthetist. Support was also had from Corey Harbold, a US-based medical representative with extensive experience in lumbar disc surgical technical support; with nurses Renita Hoo-Fatt, Sabrina Boswell, Shanique Johnson-Ferguson, Samuel Aroche and Ricardo Samuels providing operating room support.

Noting the successful outcome, Redmond said: “We’ve done dozens of these in the US, and we are proud to help bring this capability to Jamaica.”

In speaking to the quality of the product, Liburd revealed, “The artificial disc used in the procedure is the FDA-approved Prodisc-L artificial disc, which is reported to be the most studied and clinically proven total disc-replacement technology in the world.”

He further added, “In the instant case, the patient was walking pain-free within two days post-surgery, and we anticipate a favourable transition into normality in a short time.”

The implant used in the procedure was manufactured by Centinel Spine, a US-based spinal implant company and distributed in Jamaica by Platinum Pro Medical Services Limited, its exclusive distribution partner in the Caribbean.

The surgery represents a significant step forward in Jamaica’s healthcare capabilities, reducing the need for patients to travel overseas for advanced spinal treatment.

“This historic procedure is a testament to our mission of delivering world-class, compassionate care right here in Jamaica,” said Donmayne Gyles, president and CEO of Andrews Memorial Hospital. He further noted that AMH would continue to offer this and other groundbreaking healthcare initiatives, with ongoing investments in staff training and surgical technology already underway.

“We are grateful to our surgical team, international collaborators, and Platinum Pro Medical for helping us realise this vision. Most importantly, we are thankful to God for guiding this effort. With our operating facilities and a strong clinical team, we are charting a new course for advanced medical care as part of AMH’s journey towards becoming a high-reliability healthcare institution in the Caribbean,” said Gyles.