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MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
8
Jersey Shore
Spine Experts
Solve Mystery Condition
In April 2012, Richard Weiss tripped
on the stairs of his Freehold
Township home and crashed to
the bottom. As his wife, Arlene, called
an ambulance, the 64-year-old lost
consciousness. Quickly, he was
rushed to Jersey Shore University
Medical Center.
There, doctors found that Richard’s
injuries were not typical of a fall.
In fact, the accident had left him
completely paralyzed. Richard, who
would remain unconscious for several
days, needed specialized trauma and
spine care.
Expert Diagnosis and
Spine Care
“The Meridian System is prepared
to handle the most complex spine
cases with expert staff and specialized
equipment,” explains Michael
Lospinuso, M.D., FACS, medical director
for the Spine Program at Meridian
Neuroscience. “Our spinal care is
second to none in the area. Our transfer
center from one Meridian campus to
another allows specialized care available
to all patients who need it.”
After a thorough examination
and several imaging tests, Dr.
Lospinuso diagnosed Richard with
a rare rheumatic condition called
ankylosing spondylitis. A form of
arthritis in the spine, the condition
usually strikes men between ages
20 and 40. Richard had unknowingly
lived with it for years while the
disease caused the vertebrae in his
spine to fuse together. Until his
accident, the hardened vertebrae had
shielded his spine. But when he fell,
this protective shell shattered and
part of the cracked vertebrae pierced
his spinal cord, paralyzing him.
“Correctly diagnosing Richard
Making Every Moment Count
Retired pharmacist Richard Weiss is enjoying life
after his spine surgery. He and his wife, Arlene, love
spending time with their grandson, Zachary. They
also enjoy visiting the beach and the boardwalk.
Michael F. Lospinuso,
M.D., FACS
Board certified in
Orthopedic Surgery
Red Bank • 732-359-5777
was important not only to his
spinal cord treatment, but also
to his long-term health,” says Dr.
Lospinuso. “Untreated, this rheumatic
condition can cause immune system
deficiencies and organ failure.”
Complex Spinal Surgery
Dr. Lospinuso and his team knew
Richard needed extensive spinecorrecting
surgery. They opened his
back from neck to hip and removed
the fractured vertebra from Richard’s
spinal cord, correcting his paralysis.
The team then completely realigned
Richard’s spine and built a permanent,
scaffolding-like structure with a rod
and screws to support each vertebra.
This corrected Richard’s deformity,
allowing him to stand up straight
where he could not before.
“When I woke up, I didn’t really
know what had happened. In fact, I
felt so good my wife had to tell me
I’d even had surgery,” says Richard, a
retired pharmacist.
To help in the recovery of the
procedure, Richard underwent therapy
at Jersey Shore. Less than three
months later, he was back home.
Although he’ll need regular monitoring
for adverse effects of his condition,
such as heart or kidney problems,
today he feels no signs from his fall.
He is walking without problems and
enjoying time with his family.
“I’m so thankful I was taken to
the right hospital and had the right
doctors,” Richard says. •
Read more inspiring stories at MeridianNeuroscience.com, such as
that of Peter Hetzler. He broke his neck and spine in a skiing accident
but is back on his feet after a complex procedure to rebuild his spine.