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by Dr. Shim
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Does Lumbar Spondylolisthesis and Stenosis need Fusion?

Conventional wisdom says  that patients with known spinal stenosis,  and associated spondylolisthesis should have fusion if having decompression surgery.  The often quoted 1991 paper from Herkowitz and Kurz identified a clinical advantage to perform lumbar fusion for patients undergoing laminectomy for spondylolisthesis with lumbar stenosis. Much research has been geared towards the types of fusions that would give […]

by Dr. Shim
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The Chance of Lumbar Discectomy Reoperation

In general appropriate properly selected patients do well with lumbar discectomy surgery.  By definition,  a properly selected patient is one who has a well defined disk herniation on diagnostic testing,  with corresponding physical examination findings of neurotension  (straight leg raise findings), and identified loss of sensation,  reflex changes and/or weakness that follows a specific nerve […]

by Dr. Shim
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Your Chance of having spine surgery may depend on where you live.

As a practicing Spine Surgeon for more than 20 years,  I have had the great honor of witnessing tremendous changes in my field.  During my residency training in the late 1980’s,  spine surgery was about to begin a tremendous technology change. As we are now in 2015,  Newer,  safer,  faster diagnostic testing such as MRI’s, […]

by Dr. Shim
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Is Sitting Bad for my Back?

Lately,  there has been many articles on the bad side effects of sitting too long.  Due to lack of activity,  there is weight gain,  body shape molding,  increased cardiac risk,  and even some studies show higher mortality rates for people who sit for prolonged times on a frequent basis. As a spine specialist, there is […]

by Dr. Shim
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10 Causes of Back Pain

If you live long enough,  you will eventually experience back pain.  Depending on the source,  up to 80% of the population will experience a back pain episode that will cause at least temporary disability.    Luckily,  most will recover,  and will get on with their life. There are many potential causes of back pain. 1. […]

by Dr. Shim
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Does Everyone Get Spinal Stenosis?

If you live long enough,  you will get spinal stenosis.   Everyone must face the fact that they will age.  It is better than the alternative.  Aging is the process by which the cells in your body die, but the replacement cells do not have the same initially properties of the older cells.  Some scientists […]