Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2005

HK ' s First A r t i f i c i a l Ce r vi ca l D i s c System Imp l a n t a t i o n The Division of Neurosurgery of the Department of Surgery has successfully performed the territory's first implantation of artificial cervical disc system on a 33-year-old patient to relieve nerve root and spinal cord compression caused by a damaged disc. The artificial disc allows for motion and therefore reduces neighbouring disc degeneration which the traditional procedure does not. Recovery is also speedy. Cervical disc damage is usually associated with degenerative changes. Discs lose their water content and shock absorption properties because of age. When a disc ruptures in the cervical spine, it puts pressure on the nerve roots and the spinal cord, causing pain and other symptoms in the neck and arms and urine incontinence. About 30 to 40 per cent of Hong Kong people aged 40 or above have cervical spondylosis and the percentage increases w ith age. In severe cases, surgery is needed. In the traditional procedure to alleviate neck and arm pain, bone graft is placed between adjacent vertebral bodies which heels over several months until fusion occurs. However, since six columns of cervical spine, instead of seven, are left, physical stress to each column increases, w h ich may accelerate disc de­ generation elsewhere in the neck. Prof. Poon Wai-sang (right) announcing the achievement o fthe new technique at apress conference on 16th December 2004 Faculty o f Medicine Strengthens Partnership with Macau's Medical Sector To enhance academic exchange between medical personnel in Hong Kong and Macau and to promote professional medical training in Macau, the CUHK-Macao Academic Exchange Symposium was held at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre on 8th January 2005. The symposium was organized by the CUHK Faculty of Medicine and the Dr. Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation, with Seng Heng Bank Ltd., Hospital Central Conde de S. Januario, and Kiang Wu Hospital in Macau as coorganizers. The speakers of the symposium were teachers from the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics and doctors from the two hospitals in Macau. The event concurred w ith the inauguration ceremony and gala dinner of the Dr. Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation, held also at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. Established with a donation of MOP10 m illion from Seng Heng Bank, the objective of the foundation is to upgrade medical services in Macau by sponsoring doctors to receive professional and continuing medical education at the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University. News in Brief 51