Physician Referrals:

To:Referring physicians, Foothills Regional Pain Center

Re:Laser discectomy for herniated and degenerated lumbar disc disease

Dear Colleague:

Thank you for your interest in percutaneous laser discectomy and endoscopic microdiscectomy for the treatment of back pain and sciatica caused by degenerative disc disease and herniated lumbar discs. Like you, most physicians appreciate an explanation of new technologies and the potential benefit to their patients who may be candidates to receive them. I have included some of our resources for medical professionals as an educational CD, with an explanation of the contents of each file for your use.

Endoscopic Microdiscectomy Letter to Physicians

Endoscopic Microdiscectomy Patient Information

Laser animation for referring physicians: (Apple “Quick Time” video file, Quick Time program available free at www.apple.com/quicktime ) The video gives an animated view of the effect of the laser on a painful, herniated disc. Very helpful to explain the procedure to patients and interested third parties. Copy and use at will.

Foothills video media broadcast: (Windows Media Player video file) This educational video is featured on WYFF Channel 4 to publicize the availability of percutaneous laser treatment for herniated discs to the general public. Public and physician interest in, and acceptance of laser discectomy has been overwhelming. Physician referral is still required for patient evaluation. The video segment includes the laser animation for those who do not have or cannot get Quick Time from Apple.

PLDD 3 month Foothills study, published: (Adobe Acrobat document. Acrobat reader available free on the internet at www.adobe.com/acrobat ). This 3-month study was performed and published at Foothills Regional Pain Center here in Seneca to confirm the published benefits of percutaneous laser discectomy on local patients in our pain clinic. The local study confirms the results obtained by other investigators around the world, demonstrating that laser discectomy is 80% effective for relief of sciatica, and 70% effective for the relief of discogenic pain, allowing the majority of patients to avoid the risk, expense, and prolonged recovery of open spinal surgery.

Gronemeyer - PLDD 4 Year Followup 200 Patients.

Endoscopic Microdiscectomy for Spinal Stenosis

Endoscopic Microdiscectomy for Recurrent Disc Herniations

Endoscopic Microdiscectomy v.s. Open Microdisectomy

Endoscopic Microdiscectomy Transforaminal and Dorsal Approaches

Endoscopic Microdiscectomy Animation

Endoscopic Microdiscectomy Commercial

I hope you find the enclosed educational materials helpful in evaluating the available treatment options available to your patients with discogenic spinal pain syndromes. Patient referral forms and additional educational resources including patient brochures and other clinical papers published by our group are available online at www.foothillspain.com . I appreciate the opportunity to discuss specific patients or management issues with referring physicians, and look forward to your questions and comments.

Very truly yours,

Marion R. McMillan MD     

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