BATON ROUGE, LA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/24/08 -- Cervical disc replacement surgery would most typically be done for patients with cervical disc herniations that have not responded to non-surgical treatment options and are significantly affecting the individual's quality of life and ability to function.

An artificial disc surgery may be done instead of an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The advantages of the artificial cervical disc replacement include:

-- Maintaining normal neck motion

-- Eliminating the need for a bone graft

-- Early postoperative neck motion

-- Faster return to normal activity

The indications for a cervical disc replacement include symptomatic cervical disc, which may be causing arm pain, arm weakness or numbness with some degree of neck pain.

The standard surgical procedure for a disc replacement is an anterior (from the front) approach to the cervical spine. The affected disc is completely removed including any disc fragments or bone spurs. The disc space is prepared to relieve pressure on the nerves and the artificial disc device is implanted. The patient typically can go home within 24 to 48 hours with minimal activity limitations.

Jorge Isaza, MD, will perform cervical disc replacement for this webcast on www.or-live.com. Dr. Isaza is a graduate of Universidad del Valle Hospital in South America. He completed his fellowship and residency at Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics.

Fraser Landreneau, MD, will join Dr. Isaza as the moderator during this webcast. Dr. Landreneau will take viewers through the cervical disc replacement by explaining the process and answering questions from the viewing audience.

Dr. Landreneau earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical center in Shreveport. He completed his residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas and completed his fellowship at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery in Western Australia.

Our Lady of the Lake is the largest private medical center in Louisiana, with more than 700 licensed beds and a 12-parish service area. In a given year, Our Lady of the Lake treats approximately 35,000 patients in the hospital and serves over 300,000 persons through outpatient locations with the assistance of almost 1,000 physicians and 4,000 team members.

Visit: http://www.or-live.com/ololrmc/2003 to learn more and view a program preview. VNR: http://www.or-live.com/rams/ola-2003-mkw-q.ram

Video-Link Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=660425

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Contact:
Alex Fraser
Director of Marketing
OR-Live, Inc.
860-953-2900 x214
afraser@orlive.com