74-Year-Old Race Car Driver Back on Track After Eight Level Spinal Fusion Surgery

AVENTURA, FL (December 3, 2009) - Seventy-four-year-old Gabriel Riano has always been a very active man. He not only works as a cement truck driver delivering heavy loads of concrete to construction sites throughout South Florida, he is also a race car driver.

I ve been racing cars for over 50 years, said Riano. It is one of my true passions in life.

Three years ago, when Riano began to experience excruciating pain and weakness in his back and legs, he knew he was in trouble. His pain was so intense he could barely walk and was dependent on pain medication. His job as a truck driver became problematic for him because he was unable to climb up into his truck or sit for long hours while driving, and the pain medications altered his state of mind.

I was becoming debilitated, said Riano. I had to give up race car driving because in order to get into my sports car, I have to climb in through a window.

Desperate to find relief, Riano sought out medical advice from many doctors in various specialties. He went for acupuncture treatments and chiropractics and visited orthopedists. He was told that his spine was in very poor condition due to age-related degenerative disc disease and that he suffered from severe spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spine, in five of his discs. He was also told that he needed major spine surgery to correct this problem, but because of his age, he was not a candidate. At the advanced age of 74, undergoing major surgery can put a tremendous strain on the body. Patients can be subject to loss of blood during surgery as well as the potential for developing heart or lung problems.

I became very depressed. I thought that my quality of life was over, said Riano.

Riano was referred to board certified, internationally recognized neurological surgeon Santiago Figuereo, M.D. of Miami Neurological Institute (www.miamini.com), a private practice specializing in difficult spine cases and minimally invasive surgeries for spine and brain disorders. Dr. Figuereo evaluated Riano and confirmed that he had severe degenerative disc disease.

Gabriel s spine was in very poor condition, said Figuereo. He had five degenerated discs that were pressing on the nerves and causing his debilitating pain.

Dr. Figuereo ordered an MRI and CT scan of Riano s spine, and upon additional evaluation and diagnosis, he agreed to operate.

Although Riano is a 74-year-old man, he is in extremely good health and very strong, said Figuereo.

While it can be risky to put an older patient through such a difficult surgery, Dr. Figuereo felt that Riano could withstand the surgery and would have a good outcome. Riano underwent surgery in May 2009. The surgery lasted for eight hours and was a huge success.

I fused eight levels of Riano s spine, said Dr. Figuereo. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to correct problems with the vertebrae of the spine. The spine is stabilized by using bone grafts and metal rods and screws to fuse together two or more vertebrae.

Riano spent only five days in the hospital and was able to walk with the assistance of a walker the day after his surgery.

Gabriel has done remarkably well, said Dr. Figuereo. He came through a very difficult surgery without complications and is functioning at 95 percent with little or no pain.

Last month, Riano was able to go back to work driving his truck. The most exciting news is that he was able to return to sports car racing. Last month, he raced in Palm Beach, and in January 2010, he will race in Homestead for the Sports Car Club of America.

The old man was even able to climb in through the car window again, said Riano. He is so grateful to Dr. Figuereo for having the confidence and determination to operate on him. I thought that I would be disabled for the rest of my life. Instead, I feel like a new man.

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About Miami Neurological Institute

Located in Aventura, Fla., Miami Neurological Institute offers minimally invasive, state-of-the-art procedures for disorders of the brain and spine. The Institute's founder and medical director, Santiago Figuereo, M.D., is a board certified neurological surgeon who brings unique techniques to the region, including craniotomy with hair preservation, minimally invasive spinal discectomy, and minimally invasive endoscopic techniques for intracranial, skull base, and pituitary tumors. He is highly skilled in the surgical management of movement disorders, including deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and surgical procedures for epilepsy.

Prior to arriving in South Florida, Dr. Figuereo served as standing faculty and assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Neurosurgery Division Chief at the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Dr. Figuereo studied general surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia and his neurological surgery residency was completed at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He completed a neurosurgery fellowship at the University of Washington and a fellowship in functional neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit www.miamini.com or call (786) 623-2000.

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