First of its kind in the Middle East: operating table allows spinal injury patients to be rotated during theatre
Recovery times reduced to two days for cervical spine dislocations
Al Ain, August 30, 2010: Tawam Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, today announced the success of a recent addition to its operating theatre - a specially designed operating table that allows for 360 degree surgery. The table can be rotated 180 degrees, which means that the Tawam surgical team can enter from both sides of the body, both front and back - or posterior and anterior in medical terminology.
The operating table, the first of its kind in the Middle East, is proving particularly beneficial for spinal injuries, including complex dislocations of the cervical spine, which are most commonly associated with trauma patients from road traffic accidents. Since its installation in June, the rotating table has been used on more than 12 occasions, significantly contributing to the recovery time of patients.
Dr. Amr El Shawarby, Chief Neurosurgery and Senior Consultant at Tawam Hospital, said: "Spinal injuries including fracture dislocations of the cervical spine are very difficult to treat on a flat, immobile operating table. Being able to rotate a patient 180 degrees, and manipulate from both sides of the spine, means that the Tawam operating team can restore alignment and dislocate locked facets without endangering the delicate neural structure.
"The rotating table means that a patient with an injury who previously would have needed to remain in hospital for up to 21 days to recover can now go home after just two days, and the metal cages which would have been inserted to help fuse the cervical spine back together are no longer necessary."
Recent successes for Tawam Hospital's 360 degree surgery include an 18 year old woman with a cervical spinal injury resulting from a car accident in Al Ain, who was able to return home after just four days in hospital and a 25 year old patient who was injured in a car accident which led to a fracture dislocation of the cervical spine, who through a small posterior and then anterior incision, had their cervical spine unlocked and then fused in one operation, rather than two. The patient was sent home after just two days.
Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System and is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA) which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The hospital is managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International.
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About Tawam Hospital
Tawam Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine is a premier, 466-bed tertiary care facility located in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, one of the largest of the United Arab Emirates. Tawam serves as a regional referral center for specialized medical care and a national referral center for oncology services. Though it offers services in all specialties, the hospital is best known for its oncology, neonatal care, emergency medicine, intensive care, surgery, urology, family medicine, fertility services, neurosurgery, nephrology, pediatrics and pain management. Tawam Hospital is one of the first public hospitals to receive JCI accreditation in the UAE. Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA HealthSystem owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
About Johns Hopkins Medicine International
Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) facilitates the global development of the Johns Hopkins Medicine mission: to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care.
As the international access point to thousands of Johns Hopkins experts in medicine, nursing, public health and health care administration, JHI coordinates treatment for out-of-town patients who travel to Baltimore and for local patients with limited English proficiency. It also provides services in hospital management, health care consulting and clinical education through strategic alliances and affiliations in the Middle East, Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia.
About the SEHA HealthSystem and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA)
SEHA is health in Arabic. The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company - whose marketing identity is SEHA - is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company owns and operates all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi which together make up the SEHA HealthSystem. SEHA is committed to providing high quality, cost effective healthcare in a socially responsible way on par with international standards measured through accessibility, affordability, choice and satisfaction. SEHA has partnered with internationally recognized hospital managers to achieve these goals. These include Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, VAMED, Vienna Medical University and Bumrungrad International. SEHA owns and operates 12 hospitals with 2,644 beds, 62 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centers and 2 blood banks. SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East with 16,500 doctors, nurses, ancillary care and administrative personnel in its employ. Visit our website at www.seha.ae
For media enquiries, please contact:
Sumaya Al Harrasi
Section Head ,
Business Development
Tawam Hospital
Tel.: +971 3 7075131 / Mobile: +971 504487831
Fax: +971 3 7075192
Email: sharrasi@tawamhospital.ae
© Press Release 2010
