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Thomasville - Dr. Brian A. Blue, Orthopaedic Surgeon on staff at Thomasville Medical Center, successfully performed the first nucleoplasty on the East Coast. Nucleoplasty is a new minimally invasive procedure utilizing revolutionary technology that offers relief to those with contained lumbar disc herniation or back pain.

Performed under local anesthesia and fluroscopic guidance, the spine specialist utilizes small-profile wands engineered to channel into the disc with a focused effect. Utilizing radiofrequency energy to remove unwanted tissues and relieve pressure on the nerve roots, the procedure provides the patient much needed relief to the degenerative disc. This successful procedure permitted the patient to return home the same day and is scheduled to return to work within two weeks. The nucleoplasty was performed instead of the traditional open disc surgery, which requires hospitalization and a recovery period of up to six weeks. The patient's recovery includes a physical rehabilitation program.

Dr. Brian A. Blue, with Triad Orthopaedics located at 1300 Lexington Avenue in Thomasville, is one of the selected orthopaedic surgeons across the country expertly trained to perform this revolutionary procedure. Dr. Blue received training on this procedure from ArthroCare and SouthTech Orthopaedics. Dr. Blue now instructs courses for other surgeons on the Nucleoplasty procedure across the Southeast. The procedure has been performed in the United States since December 2000. Dr. Blue, in conjunction with Thomasville Medical Center Rehab Medicine, established a Back Rehabilitation Program at Thomasville Medical Center in his on-going efforts to provide local residents state of the art orthopaedic services in the Davidson County area.

"Dr. Blue has been a tremendous addition to our medical staff, and his expertise and training enhance the orthopaedic services available to local residents" states Roland Bibeau, Vice President for Thomasville Medical Center. "Dr. Blue's expertise in back procedures enabled him to be among the first orthopaedic surgeons in the country to perform this revolutionary spine procedure. We are proud to have a specialist of Dr. Blue's skill on our staff."

For more information about the nucleoplasty procedure, please contact Dr. Brian A. Blue at Triad Orthopaedics, 336-475-0200.