LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Revolutionary new spinal surgery technology being used by UofL Health is providing relief for patients. Before moving to Kentucky, Wilfred Longo spent 11 with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division jumping out of planes.

What You Need To Know

  • UofL Health is the first hospital in Kentucky to utilize endoscopic spine surgery

  • This type of surgery is minimally invasive and was previously only available in Asia and major U.S. cities, like Seattle and Miami

  • There is a good chance at some point in life, adults will experience some type of spinal injury

“You hit the ground at 22 feet per second on average. So if you land incorrectly ever, you can do a lot of damage snapping your legs, hurting your back. I thought I had landed correctly all of those times,” said Longo .

But when Longo was getting discharged from the military, doctors found damage to his knees and back.

“I found as time kept going on is the back pain or back going out? [It] started increasing in frequency. It got to the point where walking was becoming a struggle and sleeping was a struggle.” said Longo .

UofL Health has purchased new equipment in order to do endoscopic spine surgery, which is an ultra-minimally invasive way to help people with back and leg pain.

UofL Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery Dr. David Freeman says this type of technology is very common in is Asia, and in major cities in the U.S. like Houston, Seattle, Miami and now in Louisville. Dr. Freeman say 85% of Americans will at some point experience some type of spinal injury, also known as disc herniation.

“I think really the importance is that there’s like, hope that there’s a possibility of, doing something that can help them in a more permanent way than, you know, medicine or steroid injections this is a way to get them back to doing the things that they love doing or even things that are important, like their jobs,” said Dr. Freeman.

Longo is the first patient to undergo surgery with the new equipment in Kentucky. He says the entire procedure took approximately 90 minutes and is already making a life-changing difference.

“Here we are. And, you know, I don’t take any pain medications at all. Running, walking. I’ve been weightlifting again. I was jogging with the kids and doing sports activities with them,” said Longo .

Longo is already recommending this spinal treatment to others. 

Related Stories