Destinations

GETS KELLY
ON HER FEET
at MedStar Union Memorial
Hospital and regional director
of the MedStar Spine Program.
“Dr. Asdourian was very surprised
that I was still able to walk, drive
and work 40 hours a week as a
security guard,” she explains.
Because of the size of the
herniated disc, and the fact that
it was compressing King’s spinal
cord and could cause permanent
damage if it was not removed,
Dr. Asdourian told her she needed
surgery. In collaboration with
Zeena Dorai, MD, FACS, chief of
Neurosurgery at MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital and MedStar
Good Samaritan Hospital, he
performed a cervical discectomy
and fusion to remove the damaged
disc, relieving the pressure on the
spinal cord and stabilizing it.
“Traditionally, neurosurgery and
orthopaedics operate on separate
tracks,” Dr. Asdourian explains. “At
MedStar Union Memorial, there’s
always been a good, collaborative
relationship
between these
specialties,
which has been
enhanced by
the addition
of Dr. Dorai to
the staff. For
complex spine
problems like
Zeena Dorai, MD Ms. King’s, it’s
Working as a team, MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital's orthopaedics
and neurosurgery experts restored
the health of Kelly's spine.
better to have four expert hands
during surgery rather than just two.”
Adds Dr. Dorai, “We recognize each
other’s strengths and work more
quickly as a team, which lowers the
complication rate and improves
outcomes for our patients.”
“I instantly felt better.”
When King woke up in the recovery
room after her surgery, the nurse
was rubbing her left leg. “My first
thought was, ‘I can feel my leg!’”
she says. “I instantly felt better.
When I got out of bed and I felt my
feet on the floor I was so excited!
I hopped up and started moving!”
King is looking forward to being
able to do all the things she enjoys
with no pain or limp. “Dr. Asdourian
and Dr. Dorai treated me like
family,” she adds. “They took
great care of me and welcomed
my family, who came with me to
the hospital. Dr. Dorai knew I was
scared because there was a chance
that I wouldn’t get the feeling back
in my leg, and she did everything
she could to ease my worries. She
said, ‘You don’t worry. Let us worry.
You’re in good hands.’ And she
couldn’t have been more right!”
BACK OR
NECK PAIN?
COUNT ON
MEDSTAR
ORTHOPAEDICS
The MedStar Orthopaedics
team includes orthopaedic
spine surgeons, neurosurgeons,
physiatrists, neuroradiologists,
physical therapists, and
occupational therapists
who provide:
• Physical therapy and
rehabilitation
• Pain management
• Injections, radiofrequency
ablation and electrothermal
therapy
• Surgery, including microscopic
and minimally invasive spine
surgery approaches
To make an appointment
with a specialist from MedStar
Orthopaedics, call 877-34-ORTHO
(877-346-7846).
Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016 5