Practice News

That’s the title that phrenic nerve surgery patient Don Bird gave on his Don Bird Foundation website blog to describe his arrival in New Jersey. After his year-long quest (including family and friends doing substantial fundraising) to reach our shores from his native Australia, Don Bird is, in fact, here (and literally photographing the leftover snow from the recent storm).

The past two days consisted of media appearances by both patient and physician, Dr. Matthew Kaufman, and to watch and listen to the two of them was nothing short of both heartening and inspiring.

Often those of us not intimately involved with illness or medical procedures are not privy to what underlies this journey. At the conclusion of the hour-long on air interview on WCTC Radio, and less than 48 hours before his surgery, Don Bird said: What I haven’t expressed yet is that if nothing more comes of this, my family and I are glad we made the journey.

For Bird and his wife, an apparent “pit bull” who never took “no” for an answer from Don’s Australian physicians and searched the Internet to find Dr. Kaufman, the quest has brought out the best in their community: from their 14-year-old son bike riding over 1,000 kilometers in ten days for fundraising for his dad (that netted $13,000); to the three schools his children attend each waiving the year’s tuition on behalf of his Don Bird Foundation—as Bird said on the air, “Sometimes saying thank you just doesn’t seem like enough.”

I Knew I’d Found Our Man
It takes an enormous amount of time, testing, phone consultations with fellow physicians, and plain old paperwork to arrange for any patient to undergo surgery. Imagine how complicated all that is with connections between New Jersey and Don Bird’s native Australia. (Kudos to Heather O’Neill, who assists Dr. Kaufman, and was the “lifeline” connection between Bird and The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction and Dr. Kaufman).

Considering the time difference, Bird and his wife at one point awaited a scheduled call from Dr. Kaufman—at 4 am Austrailian time. “I’m sorry for waking you up,” Dr. Kaufman said to Bird. “What doctor says something like that?!” Bird told us as he related the story. He then added that after that gesture and comment by Dr. Kaufman, “I knew I’d found our man.”

Divine Luck
Don Bird made it out of Australia one day before Qantas Airlines, his scheduled carrier, went on strike and shut down operations. He made it with one day to spare before the sudden East Coast snowstorm shut down local airport operations.

Welcome to New Jersey
The Jersey Shore Medical Center left Bird, his 16-year-old daughter and his mother-in-law who escorted him, a few “provisions” in their hotel when they arrived: a humidifier, some coconut cream cakes, and a double album of Bruce Springsteen.

Dr. Kaufman & Co.
Among those observing Don Bird’s surgery will be Dr. Shaocheng Zhang, of Changhai Hospital. Dr. Zhang has rerouted peripheral nerves to restore function in hundreds of patients with spinal cord injuries, a procedure not currently done in the United States. Dr. Zhang is part of the symposium on November 5, Innovative Solutions for Spinal Cord Injury, Paralysis and Neuropathy: A Multispecialty Approach.

SHREWSBURY, NJ – February 25, 2010 – The Plastic Surgery Center today announced the successful results of a rare nerve transfer performed for the first known time on a stroke patient to reverse paralysis.  Following the procedure, which was led by Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D., 47-year old Vincent Filipini is now able to lift, move and bend his once paralyzed arm.  Mr. Filipini continues to show improvement in his mobility.

Dr. Elkwood commented, “We are extremely pleased with Vinny’s surgery outcome.  In addition to improving his quality of life, his results portend significant implications for individuals worldwide that suffer paralysis from a stroke.  Given his successful results, we believe there is a great deal more we can do going forward to restore further function of paralysis caused by strokes.”

During the procedure, which took place on December 18, 2007, at Monmouth Medical Center, Dr. Elkwood and a team of doctors took nerves from Mr. Filipini’s legs and attached them to his paralyzed arm to restore functionality.  The medical team created a nerve tunnel across Mr. Filipini’s chest to reach his bad arm, in order to run a so-called “extension cord” through his body and bypass the part of his brain not working as a result of his stroke.  Dr. Elkwood expected it would take months of recovery and therapy to determine the results, as the nerves grow approximately one inch per month.

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Dr. Andrew Elkwood is part of the medical team at the Plastic Surgery Center, located in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, and comprised of a group of surgeons highly skilled in nerve transplantation and advanced reconstruction. They perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions who are often unaware a treatment is available. Some of these conditions include: 

• Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial reanimation
• Nerve decompression for migraine headaches

For further information, please visit www.advancedreconstruction.com.

For Immediate Release

NEW JERSEY MEDICAL TEAM RELIEVES PARAPLEGIC PRESSURE ULCERS

BY RARE NERVE TRANSFER PROCEDURE

65-Year Old Gunshot Victim Received Complex Procedure to Avoid

Life-Threatening Ulcers

SHREWSBURY, NJ – November 13, 2008 – In what is believed to be the first time in the United States, a nerve transfer was performed on a paraplegic to relieve life-threatening pressure ulcers – a common side effect associated with wheelchair-bound patients. The surgery took place on November 11, 2008, at Monmouth County Medical Center, and was performed by a team of medical professionals led by Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D. of the Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ.

Yesterday’s surgery was performed on a 65-year old Monmouth County man, who was left paraplegic after being caught in a gunshot crossfire several years ago.  As part of the procedure, Dr. Elkwood and his team surgically removed nerves from the patient’s paralyzed legs to his chest and successfully relieved the acute pain caused by the pressure ulcers. Ultimately, the surgery is intended to stimulate sensation in the patient’s posterior.

Dr. Elkwood commented, “Our goal was to first fix the immediate problem, the pressure sores, and then attempt to fix the cause. We are extremely pleased with the initial results of the procedure and are therefore encouraged by the long-term potential for the surgery. Specifically, if this proves successful, it can be life-altering for tens of thousands of wheelchair-bound patients whose lives are subjugated by acute pressure ulcers and soars.”

Images available upon request.

About Dr. Elkwood

Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D., is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who practices at The Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ. He performs unique operations involving nerve transplantation and complex reconstruction. Dr. Elkwood is a pioneer in sural nerve grafting procedures, where he transfers nerves from one part of a patient’s body to another to treat life-altering injuries. He also uses this procedure to eliminate common side effects caused by prostate cancer removal, such as impotence and incontinence. Dr. Elkwood serves as the Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ, and is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgery (FACS) and a Fellow of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.  For further information, please visit the Plastic Surgery Center’s website at www.looknatural.com.

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For Immediate Release

RARE NERVE TRANSPLANT PERFORMED FOR FIRST TIME ON STROKE PATIENT TO REVERSE PARALYSIS

44 Year-Old Stroke Patient Paralyzed On Right Side Undergoes Procedure Performed by New Jersey Medical Team

SHREWSBURY, NJ – December 18, 2007 – The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that a rare nerve transplant was performed for the first time on a stroke patient to reverse paralysis. The surgery was performed at Monmouth Medical Center by a team of NJ medical professionals led by Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D.

During the procedure, Dr. Elkwood and his team utilized advanced technology to take nerves from 44-year old Vincent Filipini’s legs and attach nerves from his working side to nerves on his paralyzed side to restore functionality of his arm.

Dr Elkwood is a pioneer in this procedure, cross chest brachial plexus neurotization, and has had great success in restoring functionality of patients who had become paralyzed from accidents.

Dr. Elkwood is part of the medical team at the Plastic Surgery Center, which is comprised of a group of surgeons who are highly skilled in nerve transplantation and advanced reconstruction. They perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions who are often unaware that a treatment is available. Some of these conditions that the Plastic Surgery Center treats include:

• Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial Reanimation

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Located in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, The Plastic Surgery Center’s team of doctors has more than 50 years of combined experience performing facial, skin, and body cosmetic surgery. They offer cutting edge cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and have developed a number of innovative surgical techniques offered at few other facilities in the world. The Plastic Surgery Center doctors are committed to excellence providing exceptional, personalized care in a friendly, comfortable setting using the most advanced equipment available. For further information, please visit the Plastic Surgery Center’s website at www.looknatural.com.

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For Immediate Release

19-YEAR OLD PARALYZED PATIENT REGAINS FULL MOBILITY OF ARM AFTER RECENT LIVING-DONOR NERVE TRANSPLANT

Patient’s Recovery Unprecedented and Supersedes Previous Prognoses for Recovery

SHREWSBURY, NJ – September 29, 2004 – The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that 19-year old Melissa Gomez, who received a rare living-donor nerve transplant in May, has regained full mobility of her once paralyzed arm. Ms. Gomez’s level of recovery is unprecedented in documented nerve transplant cases and supersedes all previous prognoses for her recovery.

In May 2004, Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D., of the Plastic Surgery Center, led a team of medical professionals in performing a rare living-donor nerve transplant to reverse the paralysis of Ms. Gomez’s arm, which was sustained in a car accident in 2003.  The nerve transplant is a complex procedure that utilizes advanced technology in order to reverse many life-altering paralyses.  As part of this particular procedure, the medical team surgically removed nerves from Ms. Gomez’s father’s leg, and simultaneously transplanted them into her arm.  The procedure also required the doctors to take nerves from Ms. Gomez’s own legs and transplant them into her arm.

Dr. Elkwood is part of the medical team at the Plastic Surgery Center, which is comprised of a group of surgeons who are highly skilled in nerve transplantation and advanced reconstruction. They perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions who are often unaware that a treatment is available. Some of these conditions that the Plastic Surgery Center treats include:

• Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial Reanimation

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Located in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, The Plastic Surgery Center’s team of doctors has more than 50 years of combined experience performing facial, skin, and body cosmetic surgery. They offer cutting edge cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and have developed a number of innovative surgical techniques offered at few other facilities in the world. The Plastic Surgery Center doctors are committed to excellence providing exceptional, personalized care in a friendly, comfortable setting using the most advanced equipment available. For further information, please visit the Plastic Surgery Center’s website at www.looknatural.com.

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