Entrepreneur and powerboat racing champion Russell “Rusty” Rahm holds two Key West SBI World Championship titles, as well as other awards in the sport. He continues to enjoy his love of the outdoors, thanks to a total disc replacement (TDR) surgical procedure on his spine. Dr. Michael Janssen, an innovator in using the technique to treat professional athletes, performed Rusty Rahm’s surgery in 2017.
In January 2017, World Neurosurgery published an article that echoes much recent medical thinking on the subject, stating that, for 50 patients in a single study who underwent monosegmental cervical TDR, the median length of time required to return to normal activity levels was four weeks. The physicians who conducted the procedures noted that the clinical outcome with this procedure is such that even very highly active individuals should be able to return to their normal activities within a short period of time.
Of the patients in the study, the mean age was 40 years old. About half of these patients were professional or semi-professional athletes, and about half were dedicated avocational athletes. Only a few led minimally active lifestyles.
Rusty Rahm’s recovery trajectory was similar: Two months after surgery, he successfully finished his first race. He credits his surgeon’s expertise and caring with saving and transforming his life. Dr. Janssen even called him on the day of the race to offer support and encouragement.
In January 2017, World Neurosurgery published an article that echoes much recent medical thinking on the subject, stating that, for 50 patients in a single study who underwent monosegmental cervical TDR, the median length of time required to return to normal activity levels was four weeks. The physicians who conducted the procedures noted that the clinical outcome with this procedure is such that even very highly active individuals should be able to return to their normal activities within a short period of time.
Of the patients in the study, the mean age was 40 years old. About half of these patients were professional or semi-professional athletes, and about half were dedicated avocational athletes. Only a few led minimally active lifestyles.
Rusty Rahm’s recovery trajectory was similar: Two months after surgery, he successfully finished his first race. He credits his surgeon’s expertise and caring with saving and transforming his life. Dr. Janssen even called him on the day of the race to offer support and encouragement.
