Ara Deukmedjian, MD, is the CEO of the Deuk Spine Institute and developer of the Deuk Laser Disc Repair™ technique. The technique is different from other minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgeries, because virtually all other endoscopic laser spine surgeries offered require the surgeon to drill a hole, called a laminotomy and facetectomy, in the back of the patient's spine to alleviate the pain.
"They have to drill a hole in the bony roof and facet joint of the spine to be able to get down to the damaged disc," says Dr. Deukmedjian. "The facet joint helps keep the spine stable and by surgically removing any of the facet the spine can become unstable. An unstable spine will eventually become horribly painful and likely require spinal fusion to correct." Instead of drilling the hole, Dr. Deukmedjian uses a special endoscope to gently separate the muscle and ligaments before performing the disc repair with a precise laser. "This procedure eliminates the need to cut the bone," he says. The procedure employs a 7 millimeter incision, while endoscopic discectomies routinely require 18 millimeter incisions.
During his career, Dr. Deukmedjian has performed more than 2,000 cervical decompression discectomies and more than 1,000 herniated or degenerated lumbar discs, in addition to more than 300 laser spine surgeries, with a 95 percent success rate in eliminating pain.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Deukmedjian serves as an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine and works with the Deuk Spine Foundation to support the continued research into, and development of, new techniques in spinal health. He is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a member of the Congress of Neurosurgeons. He serves as the president of the board of governors for the Brevard County Medical Society and the surgery department chair at Parrish Medical Center.
Dr. Deukmedjian earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California's School of Medicine and completed his neurosurgical training at the University of Florida at Shands. His additional training includes a fellowship funded by the National Institutes of Health. In 2011, Dr. Deukmedjian was recognized with the "Patient's Choice Award" from Viatals.com.
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