Many people experience daily aches and pains in their back and neck, accepting it as part of getting older and leading an active lifestyle. Some people experience intense, frequent debilitating back and neck pain that makes even simple daily activities, such as walking or sitting nearly impossible. Fortunately for area residents, Dr. Bruce Vest is available to ease the pain.
Since 1991, Dr. Vest has performed numerous spinal surgeries at Saint Anthony’s Hospital. Recently the hospital purchased state of the art equipment for spinal surgery, including a Jackson spinal surgery table and a Leica F40 surgical microscope. The new equipment allows Dr. Vest to combine the advanced technology with years of experience to provide the most effective surgical procedures for spinal disorders.
“The Jackson table is an amazing carbon-fiber radiolucent device that allows 360 degree visualization of the spine using fluoroscopic x-rays,” said Dr. Vest. “Detailed images of the spine during surgery allow precise placement of spinal implants such as titanium rods and screws and bone grafts used to stabilize the spine. The Leica microscope allows optimal visualization of the spinal cord and nerves through small incisions. Together they greatly increase the safety of the procedures.”
“Spinal surgery may be offered to carefully selected patients who have failed to improve with the extensive non-surgical treatment including rest, medication, physical therapy and injections,” he noted.
Dr. Vest performs a variety of procedures to treat disorders of the spine, including Microdiscetomy, a common procedure used to remove the herniated disc and relieve pressure form a pinched nerve. In some cases this surgery may be done on an outpatient basis. Another procedure, called a Microscopic laminectomy, is used to remove bone spurs and thickened ligaments from the spinal canal to treat spinal stenosis – or narrowing of the spinal canal caused by arthritis.
Spinal fusion is a procedure used to stabilize the spine with use of bone grafts and titanium screws, plates and rods. Some fusions are performed from the front of the spine – the anterior approach -- and some from the back of the spine – the posterior approach.
Disc replacement is a new and developing procedure used to replace a damaged disc with an artificial disc to preserve motion. This procedure may be used as an alternative to fusion in select cases.
“The combination of the Jackson spinal table and the Leica surgical microscope, in addition to our vast array of other surgical instruments, allows me to treat a wide variety of spinal disorders with minimally invasive surgical techniques. This allows for a shorted hospital stay and a speedier recovery for the patient.”
While the new technology gives Dr. Vest the tools to utilize his talents as a surgeon, the operating room and patient care facilities at Saint Anthony's Hospital provide him with an arena to maximize the recovery of each surgical patient. Private patient rooms on the surgical floors and pre-surgical waiting rooms allow families to maintain close contact with their loved ones.
Dr. Vest was raised in the Alton/Godfrey area. He attended college at Washington University in St. Louis and medical school at Saint Louis University. He completed a surgical internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Washington School of Medicine and a Fellowship in arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine in Lake Tahoe, California. In addition, he completed a Fellowship in advanced spinal surgery in Cleveland, Ohio.
After completion of his years of training he returned to his hometown to establish The Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic, P.C. He also serves as Chief of Surgery at Saint Anthony's Hospital.
Dr. Vest resides in the Alton/Godfrey area with his wife, Kathleen, an Internist, and their seven children. He considers it a privilege to be able to provide orthopedic care and give something back to the community.
“We are blessed to have Dr. Vest work with our experienced surgical staff and cutting edge technology,” said Cindy Drainer, Operating Room Manager at Saint Anthony’s Hospital. “Together we can provide state of the art spinal care for patients in the Metro East area.”
For more information call Saint Anthony's Physician Referral Service at 615/463-1234.