Kettering physician’s novel surgery gives man a new outlook on life

Travis Before Travis Wells of Middletown developed an arthritic condition at the age of 17 that eventually caused a severe neck deformity. Here he meets with Dr. Kamal Woods of Kettering Health Network about surgery to repair the deformity. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Travis Before Travis Wells of Middletown developed an arthritic condition at the age of 17 that eventually caused a severe neck deformity. Here he meets with Dr. Kamal Woods of Kettering Health Network about surgery to repair the deformity. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

At just 17 years old, Travis Wells began to experience health symptoms that would ultimately lead to a diagnosis of a form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the spinal joints. As the disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), progressed, Wells ended up having two hip replacements and, after an accident weakened his muscles further, the disease eventually caused his left ear to touch his shoulder and he could no longer walk upright.

“I was in tremendous pain,” Wells said. “I had a constant headache for more than three years.”

Wells sought medical treatment ranging from injections to chiropractic care. Nothing worked. He was unable to work, and his embarrassment of his deformity kept him mostly home-bound.

“I got to the point where I was touring the state and meeting with different doctors,” Wells said. “One doctor actually said there was no hope and no treatment and other neurosurgeons wouldn’t touch me.”

The most common treatment for AS, as for other forms of arthritis, is medication, exercise, physical therapy and hot and cold applications to reduce joint pain and relax muscles. Wells had tried these options, without success.

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“I was actually considering going outside of the United States to search for treatment,” Wells said. “And then I met Dr. Woods.”

Dr. Kamal Woods, medical director of Kettering Health Network’s Brain and Spine Center, took one look at Wells and was determined to help him.

“When I first met Travis one of the things that struck me right away was his faith,” Woods said. “He seemed deeply convinced that meeting me was an answer to prayer.”

Woods was so inspired by Wells that he said he immediately started beyond what he had seen done and the knowledge he already had about treating this type of deformity.

“I had seen a number of patients with this condition,” Woods said. “But I had never seen another that had the same problem as Travis. I wanted us to sit down and imagine what was possible for him.”

Calling Wells’ impairment one of the most severe he had ever seen, Woods knew he needed time to come up with a plan of action. He ordered additional scans of Wells’ neck so he could better understand his anatomy.

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“I consulted different authorities on this disease and read the most current literature,” Woods said. “But I couldn’t find that anyone had ever done a surgery to address a problem like this.”

Woods met with Wells up front to discuss the risks associated with this surgery. Deciding to perform the surgery in three stages, Woods said he planned to break Wells’ neck in four places to straighten his spine.

“Travis understood that there was a risk of quadriplegia,” Woods said. “He could lose use of his extremities and might end up wheelchair- or bed-bound permanently.”

But Wells decided the risks were worth taking to give him a chance at a normal life.

“I was completely comforted before surgery,” Wells said. “I knew the risk was there but there is just something about Dr. Woods and his confidence that helped. I prayed about it every day and night.”

And in May of this year, Woods performed the ground-breaking surgery at Kettering Medical Center that, to his knowledge, no other surgeon in the world had ever done. At the age of 32, Wells was ready to risk it all and put his future in Woods’ hands. And after more than 12 hours in surgery and a week in the hospital, Wells was able to look his doctor and others in the eye for the first time in years.

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“I was thrilled when I saw the scans after surgery,” Woods said. “It was miraculous, and the outcome even surpassed my expectations.”

Wells has several procedures still to come to correct issues in his lower spine — but above his shoulders, he is an entirely new person.

“Dayton is a place that somehow lends itself to innovation in the most incredible ways,” Woods said. “And this is one story we can be very proud of. This is not just a success story for Travis and for me. It’s a Kettering success story. The team rallied around Travis, even knowing it was challenging.”

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