Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

Doctors warn of problems linked to cellular use as Bougainvillaea hits medical milestone

Doctors warn of problems linked to cellular use as Bougainvillaea hits medical milestone

By Esther Durand, BVI News Staff As the Bougainvillea Clinic celebrates another milestone in healthcare services in the British Virgin Islands, doctors are warning of the health complications associated with inappropriate cellphone use. These complications translate to neurological problems.

Owner of the aforementioned private medical facility, Dr Heskith Vanterpool said: “The Bougainvillea clinic has been doing a number of firsts-type procedures in the Caribbean. These are highly specialized and very important procedures that we are doing here … On Monday of this week, we had the first vertebral disc replacement surgery in the neck performed in the Caribbean other than in Jamaica.”

The landmark procedure was undertaken by Nevisian, Dr James Geoffrey Liburd - a neurosurgeon, and Dr Kwesi Davis who is an ear, nose and throat surgeon from Jamaica.


More young persons requiring neurosurgical services

Dr Liburd said more young persons are now requiring his expertise.

“Recently, we have been seeing a lot of younger patients and we are still studying it. But we think it may be related to cellphone use. Everybody is looking down, and all of that is affecting the neck as opposed to being in a more neutral position with the neck,” Dr Liburd said.

He said, while the use of technology is good, persons need to protect their bodies against its misuse.

“Make sure you are not flexing the neck if you are using headphones, so you are better able to function without necessarily bending your head and so forth. Within the workplace, make sure you are trying to keep the neck neutral, exercise as well is quite important. Make sure that you are drinking adequate amounts of fluids to be hydrated,” he continued.

His colleague, Dr Davies also explained that even the use of headphones must be done correctly.

“The thing about using earphones and using it often is that sometimes we get used to the high volumes and we don’t modulate the exposure we have. So the exposure becomes hours a day, and the problem is we have a delicate organ in our inner ear that is supposed to turn all these mechanical waves into naval impulses. And that organ gets damaged at a very high rate when you are exposed to constant loud sounds,” he said.


Good use of cutting edge tech

On the other hand, technology is also being seen as a blessing with more now cutting edge devices and equipment are benefitting persons in healthcare, Dr Liburd said.

“In the past, we used to do something called fusion. What we would do is remove the disc, take the pressure off the nerve and spinal cord and take a piece of bone from the hip, put that bone into the space, and on that we put a plate.”

Dr Liburd explained that this procedure, however, would limit the motion of the neck and patients would be unable to bend their neck backwards or forward. At some point, these patients would require more operations such as their first patient who had a fusion operation ten years ago.

Fast forward to today, he explained that with new technology, patient’s mobility is much quicker, and the incisions made during the operation are a lot smaller.

Among the benefits to the new procedure is the savings associated with it being done locally for the patient, government, and the insurance companies.

“You are not doing repeat procedures and patients are back out in the workforce a lot earlier,” Dr Liburd said argued.

On the other hand, some potential risks of cervical spine surgery according to online research include reactions to the anaesthesia, bleeding, infection, nerve injury, spinal fluid leak, voice change, stroke, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, failure to relieve symptoms among other things.

Dr Liburd said they have been receiving patients from Anguilla and St Maarten. “What we are offering you is the care that you would get in any first world country.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
×