Spinal Medical Advancements as a Result of Body Donation 

Science Care serves as a connector between whole body donors and medical professionals. These two groups of individuals are aligned in their vision and desire to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals, and society as a whole, through the advancement of medical science.

Each donor accepted into our program has a wide ranging, significant impact on the medical community and medical science, with their potential contributions being relatively unlimited. Similarly, medical professionals have the potential to impact countless lives in the care provided and discoveries made.

One area of focus for medical professionals is to alleviate suffering associated with spinal disorders. The National Institute of Health estimates that more than 25% of adults worldwide are afflicted with some form of spinal disorder. 

While spinal disorders tend to manifest themselves most commonly through lower back or neck pain, there are various afflictions which cause pain. From bone disorders such as vertebral fractures, joint displacement, osteoporosis, and Scoliosis/Kyphosis/Lordosis, to soft or connective tissue disorders such as herniated discs, muscle strain, and nerve conditions such as sciatica, disorders of the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine, these disorders can be wide ranging and have a severe negative impact on a patient’s overall health and quality of life.

Medical professionals are hard at work making efforts to improve spinal health on both an individual and global level. Science Care body donors provide medical professionals the opportunity to study spinal disorders through various forms of medical research concentrated on specific disorders and/or anatomical regions, with an intent to better understand the causes and potential solutions of these disorders.

Biomechanical research testing of cadaveric tissue has led to the development of new techniques, procedures, and medical devices intended to improve patient quality of life by correcting issues commonly manifesting in the lumbar, cervical and thoracic spine. Over time, such research has produced surgical options for correction which are minimally invasive in nature and enable a patient to regain joint functionality and improve their mobility while reducing or eliminating the chronic pain caused by spinal disorders.

As new surgical procedures, techniques and medical devices relating to the correction of spinal disorders become available for use in a clinical setting, physicians and surgeons must adapt and continue their medical education to gain proficiency in the performance of such procedures. Bioskills training with cadaveric tissue affords these medical professionals the opportunity to learn, increase their skills and competency and become proficient in advanced methods of patient care.

Medical professionals who utilize tissue provided by Science Care donors have increased their anatomical knowledge, surgical skills, and competency by completing research and training related to:

• Pedical Screw Placement 
• Discectomy
• Laminectomy
• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion 
• Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion 
• And much more

Through their selfless act of donation Science Care donors have aided in research and development, as well as the surgical training and continuing medical education of a countless number of medical professionals, who in turn have improved the quality of life for a countless number of patients.