Category: Surgical:

Lumbar Discectomy yes, Lumbar Fusion, maybe.

You are in significant pain,  and the Doctors determined that your back and leg pain is caused by a Lumbar Disc Herniation.  Despite all the non surgical treatments such as medications,  therapy,  activity restrictions,  and injections,  you are not getting better and now want a surgical solution.   If your Surgeon recommends a surgery,  you should […]

Spine Surgery for Baseball Players

WE are now mid season for Major League Baseball,  and some injuries are starting to take its toll on various teams.  While shoulder and arm injuries are most common,  there is a small but significant number of players with spine related injuries. Historically,  we know several players have gone on to surgical management of herniated […]

Obesity Means more Spine Surgery Complications

Obesity means more Spine Surgery Complications.  Surgeons cannot be politically correct about  Obesity.  The truth is Obesity makes surgery more difficult,  and less successful. In the April 1, 2015 Edition of Spine,  Dr. Burks,  from the University of Virginia reviewed the data on Obesity and the associated rates of Incidental Durotomy during Lumbar Surgery.    It […]

The risks of waiting too long for Cervical Disk Surgery

While it is prudent to wait at least 6 weeks for elective cervical disk surgery,  waiting more than 6 months can lesser your chances of a more acceptable outcome. Unless you have a severe loss of muscle control,  or inability to control your bowel and bladder control,  most patients should wait at least 6 weeks […]

Low Back Pain After Lumbar Discectomy

Unfortunately,  up to 25% of patients who had lumbar discectomy surgery may have recurrent back pain after surgery.  A recent study out of Vanderbilt University performed a meta analysis of available studies on discectomy patients,  as well as prospectively following patients that had surgery at Vanderbilt.  The results of both the meta analysis and the […]

Spine Surgery Effective for Senior Population

There is a healthy fear of spine surgery,  especially in the senior citizen population.  At the same time,  so many are in such pain,  there is a willingness to have spine surgery.  Luckily,  there is evidence that Spine Surgery is safe for the over 80 year old population. In the February 4, 2015 edition of […]