Spine Pain

Minimally Invasive XLIF Spine Surgery Can Speed Recovery Time

April 6th, 2012 By Dr. Yoon

Dr. Tim Yoon, spine surgeonDr. Jim Rothermel, a retired ob/gyn, had been living with back and leg pain for more than three years. He was told that he needed extensive open spinal surgery. However, he came to the Emory Spine Center for another opinion and met with Dr. Tim Yoon, an internationally recognized spine surgeon and expert in minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Yoon diagnosed Jim with stenosis and scoliosis. His condition would typically require complex open spinal surgery, but Dr. Yoon determined that using a less invasive method, the XLIF technique, would reduce the stress on his body and reduce recovery time.

XLIF (eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion) is an approach to spinal surgery in which the spine surgeon accesses the intevertebral disc space and fuses the lumbar spine from the side rather than from the front or the back. By going through the side of the body with a small incision rather than through a large abdominal incision, much less soft tissue is traumatized, resulting in a faster recovery. XLIF may be an option for patients who have scoliosis, spondylolisthesis (where the vertebrae have slid in relation to one another), or spinal stenosis. These diagnoses typically causes leg pain and back pain.  When XLIF is used to perform a simple one-level fusion surgery, the patient often is able to go home the next day.

The XLIF technique can also be used to access multiple different discs and may be combined with other procedures, such as minimally invasive screws, to handle more complex cases, like Jim’s. This less-invasive approach can make surgery an option for people who, in the past, might not have been chosen surgery because of the prolonged recovery time or because the doctors thought the surgery was too invasive for a frail patient. Therefore, XLIF allows surgeons to treat more spinal conditions and different types of patients.

Emory spine surgeons have extensive experience performing a wide variety of spine surgeries. They know when the minimally invasive approach won’t be effective or should be combined with a bigger surgery. “Not everybody is going to be best treated by an XLIF, but I know who will be, and I choose those people,” Dr. Yoon says. “That way, you maximize the best results and minimize any likelihood of complications.”

Jim and his wife, Midge, couldn’t be happier with Dr. Yoon and their experience at the Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital. Jim says, “Dr. Yoon spent quality time with me. He thought he could do this XLIF procedure with a three-level fusion. He explained it in detail and then referred me to a website. I looked at the procedure carefully and thought it sounded like the proper way to go about doing it. He scheduled the surgery for two stages. We did the XLIF on a Monday, and he was able to do it in a manner that wasn’t muscle cutting. The recovery time was markedly improved.” Three days later, Dr. Yoon performed the second stage of the surgery, and a few days after that, Jim went home.

“Jim was extremely uncomfortable for over three years, and to see the difference in him now is just an absolute miracle. He’s happy. He’s always been a big teaser and silly, and I’ve got him back again,” Midge says.Have you had XLIF spine surgery, or would you like to learn more about spine surgery at Emory? We welcome your questions and feedback in the comments section below.

 

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Can Osteoarthritis Be Prevented?

October 18th, 2011 By Dr. Diana Sodiq

preventing osteoarthritisIf you’re starting to feel the twinges of pain or stiffness in your joints or spine, you may be wondering what’s causing it and whether you can prevent it from getting worse. One common contributor to joint and spine pain is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease that is caused by degeneration of the cartilage, the cushiony substance between the bones, and if severe, it can then affect the bone itself. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the weight-bearing joints (hips, knees, and spine).

The chance of developing arthritis increases with age. Although some people may have it as early as their 20s and 30s, it is more likely to develop osteoarthritis in your 50 and 60s and older. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, so prevention is the key. There are some risk factors that you can’t change, such as your genes (heredity) and your age. The goal is to decrease risk factors that you do have control over to help prevent osteoarthritis. These include:

  • Weight – obesity increases risk of arthritis
  • Trauma
  • Performing repetitive-motion tasks over a long period of time
  • Weaksurrounding muscles

The same factors that will help you prevent osteoarthritis can also help treat the pain and discomfort from osteoarthritis. Extra weight puts a strain on your joints, so try to keep your weight in a healthy range or lose weight if you’re not in that range. If you’re not sure what a healthy range is for you, check with your doctor. Also, keeping your muscles strong can help decrease the weight on your joints. If pain occurs while you’re doing an activity, listen to your body and decrease your intensity. Bear in mind that repetitive activities can cause joint pain and stiffness. Repetitive activities might include working on the computer or repeated bending or lifting. Try to find other ways of performing daily activities and be sure to take frequent breaks.

If you’re experiencing ongoing or increasing pain and stiffness, it may be time to see one of the physicians at the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center for further evaluation and treatment.

Emory physiatrists are physicians specially trained in rehabilitation and pain management. Our physiatrists can work with you to develop a plan that includes daily strengthening and stretching exercises to reduce pain and stiffness. Because osteoarthritis can occur in different areas of your body, you want a plan designed to target the affected joint or joints. Your physician may suggest formal therapy or bracing the joint to help ease pain. Finally, your doctor can suggest an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication or prescribe medication to help with the pain if needed.

Do you have osteoarthritis? What do you do to ease the pain and stiffness? We’d like to hear about your experience. Please take a moment to give us feedback in the comments section below.

Dr. Diana SodiqAbout Diana Sodiq, DO:
Diana Sodiq, DO, is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine. She is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry). As an osteopathic physician, Dr. Sodiq is trained in both traditional medicine as well as osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT). She started practicing at Emory in 2010.

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Patient Story: Cynthia & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

October 10th, 2011 By Dr. Yoon

Did you know spine surgery can now be done with only a small incision? Minimally invasive spine surgery is a relatively new set of techniques that has opened up surgery as an option for people who might otherwise have continued to suffer without surgery.

Patients often have the preconceived notion that spinal surgery will put them in bed and unable to walk for a long period of time. The fact is most spinal surgery does not lead to such a disabled state. And with minimally invasive surgery, patients can get back on their feet, out the hospital, and back to their normal routine faster than they’d ever have thought possible.

Cynthia Burnett is a great example of a patient who’s had minimally invasive spine surgery at Emory with excellent the results. In 2008, 56-year-old Cynthia Burnett woke up one day with excruciating nerve pain down her leg. Over the next two years, she suffered with this pain, despite multiple epidural injections. The pain just would not go away, even with the best non-operative treatment. Cynthia said she felt as if she’d aged 10 years. Her daughter recommended she come to Emory, where Cynthia saw one of our physiatrists, a nonsurgical physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating spine pain. He diagnosed a spinal stenosis (nerve pinch) and a slippage of one of her vertebrae on another. After careful analysis and discussions of options, she was told she’d be a good candidate for surgery. That’s when Cynthia came to me to discuss the surgical option.

At first, Cynthia didn’t want surgery. She said later, “My big concern about having surgery was the invasiveness. I’m healthy. I don’t go to the doctor very much. I haven’t been very sick. I just really didn’t want to choose to go under the knife.”

While not all cases can be treated with minimally invasive techniques, Cynthia was a great candidate for minimally invasive surgery. If this had not been the case, we could have used a traditional surgical technique with good results. But it would have required using, a relatively large incision to visualize the problem areas of the spine, thus a longer recovery time.

VIDEO: Cynthia’s Story of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Instead, with Cynthia, we used highly specialized retractors that are placed through small incisions with X-ray guidance to minimize the soft tissue damage. Through these small incisions, the spinal nerves were decompressed (“unpinched”), and the slipped vertebra was stabilized with a spinal fusion procedure. The factors that enabled me to do this include advanced surgical instruments, advanced imaging systems (three-dimensional computer-guided navigation), and years of surgical experience. These things lead to surgical results that are safer, less invasive, and more reliable than ever before.

Cynthia had the surgery December 16, 2010. Afterward, she said, “It was amazing to me how easy it was to walk around, and my nerve pain was gone immediately.” Cynthia also said, “It’s amazing to think they could do that with the small incision that I have. I wish I had done it years ago. And I’ve already told other people who are in pain, you need to go.”  She was truly thrilled. At Emory, our goal is to get patients back to health as quickly as possible. That’s what minimally invasive surgery is all about.

Have you had minimally invasive spine surgery, or would you like to learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery at Emory? We welcome your questions and feedback in the comments section below.

Dr. Tim Yoon, spine surgeonAbout S. Tim Yoon, MD:
S. Tim Yoon, MD, PhD, specializes in minimally invasive surgery and is assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and chief of Orthopedics at the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Atlanta. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Yoon started practicing at Emory in 2000.

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Is Your Desk Job Hurting You?

September 14th, 2011 By Dr. Diana Sodiq

Neck Back Pain Desk Job PostureThese days, more and more jobs are desk jobs, meaning many people spend a minimum of eight hours a day behind their desks and at their computers. I frequently see patients with neck and back pain with no specific injury, but who spend many hours behind a computer. This type of work can have a number of health implications, including muscle and joint pain.

If you’re a desk jockey, one of the easiest things you can do to prevent pain from a poor workstation set-up is to have an ergonomic setup designed just for you. You want your chair and work station to fit you properly. Here are a few tips to help get you started:

  • Be sure your body is properly aligned with your desk and your computer. You should be able to sit straight in front of your computer and not have to turn from side to side to access it.
  • Keep your head, neck, and torso in line, and keep your arms and elbows close to your body but within reaching distance of your keyboard. You shouldn’t have to reach forward to use your keyboard.
  • While typing, your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle from your body, and your wrists and hands should be in a straight line, with your wrists in a neutral position, not arched or bent.
  • To prevent back pain, be sure your chair has good back support.
  • When you’re sitting, your thighs should be parallel to the ground or a little higher than your knees, and your feet should touch the ground. You don’t want the end of chair hitting the back of your knees—you want a little gap there.

Neck pain is a common complaint of people who spend a lot of time on the phone. If you find yourself cradling your phone between your shoulder and chin so you can type and talk at the same time, switch to a headset or use a speaker phone.

Don’t forget to get up and move around regularly throughout the day. If you feel pain during your work day, stretching and moving around can help ease that pain, as can a heating pad or ice pack. You may even find some relief by treating yourself to a massage at one of the many Atlanta spas. I always tell each patient to listen to your body. If you are having pain, your body is trying to send you a message. If you are having neck or back pain that isn’t improving after trying the tips above, make an appointment with an Emory Spine physiatrist for further evaluation and treatment.

Do you spend a lot of time behind a desk? What do you do to get moving and ease pain? We’d like to hear about your experience. Please take a moment to give us feedback in the comments section below.

About Diana Sodiq, DO:

Diana Sodiq, DO, is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine. She is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry). As an osteopathic physician, Dr. Sodiq is trained in both traditional medicine as well as osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT). She started practicing at Emory in 2010.

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When Does Back Pain Call for an Epidural Steroid Injection?

September 1st, 2011 By Michael K. Schaufele, M.D.

Back pain epidural steroid injectionAs a physiatrist at the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center, I diagnose and treat back pain non-operatively, and one of the questions I’m asked most often by patients is whether they’re candidates for an epidural steroid injection.

If you have spinal pain, whether in your neck or back, your doctor will ask you whether it’s axial pain or radicular pain. Axial pain does not radiate into the arms or legs—it’s localized in one area. Radicular pain does radiate into the arms or legs. Axial pain typically is treated conservatively, with pain medication and exercise, and does not benefit from an epidural injection. However, if you have radicular pain and conservative measures haven’t helped, you may be a candidate for an epidural steroid injection.

In most cases, radicular pain is caused by one of two conditions—a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Herniation is when a piece of the disc becomes disclocated, or slips, and presses on a nerve. This is more common among middle-aged patients, and 80% of patients with a herniated disc will get better over time without intervention. Disc herniations shrink as the body naturally self-heals. However, an epidural steroid injection can ease the pain and make the healing process more comfortable.

Spinal stenosis usually is caused by the natural wear and tear on the spine that comes with aging. Most patients with stenosis are 65 or older. Stenosis is degenerative and can lead to spinal nerve root compression or bony stenosis, which can cause pain, numbness, and weakness. While spinal stenosis may eventually require surgery, an epidural steroid injection can be a good temporary measure if you’re not quite ready for surgery or are not a candidate.

At Emory, we used different injection techniques depending on the condition. An interlaminar epidural is similar to the epidural a pregnant woman may opt for before giving birth. In this case, the goal is to introduce the steroid around the nerve root to decrease inflammation, which, in turn, eases pain. A transforaminal epidural is a more selective injection in which we target a specific nerve root that may be compressed by a herniated disc or a bone spur. Your doctor will decide which technique will benefit you.

In most cases if you have back or neck pain, your first step should be to try conservative pain-relief measures. However, when pain medication and exercise don’t help, and you’re suffering from radiating pain, an epidural steroid injection may be a good solution. An Emory physiatrist can work with you to diagnose your pain and set you on the right course of treatment.

Have you had an epidural steroid injection for back pain? We’d like to hear about your experience. Please take a moment to give us feedback in the comments section below. If you’re interested in learning more, we have some great information on epidural steroid injections for back pain our website.

About Michael K. Schaufele, MD:

Michael K. Schaufele, MD, is assistant professor of orthopedics and assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry) and in pain medicine. Dr. Schaufele started practicing at Emory in 2000.

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3 Cervical Spine Procedures that Reduce Recovery Times

April 22nd, 2011 By John G. Heller, MD

John G. Heller, MDWhen people think about neck conditions requiring surgery, they usually think about cervical spine injuries. We’ve all seen those tense moments during football or other sports when a player is injured and lies motionless on the field. A dramatic example comes from a Boston Celtics basketball game back in February, when Marquis Daniels bumped into another player and then fell motionless to the floor.

Fortunately, these events are rare. Most cervical spine surgery is needed because of wear and tear that affects your discs over time. In younger adults, this tends to be a herniated disc, which compresses the nerve roots or spinal cord. And, as we age, we all develop bone spurs to varying degrees (the “gray hair of the neck”). These spurs can be a source of nerve root or spinal cord compression, as well.

Cervical spine procedures are typically performed through the front of the neck, or anteriorly. In the United States, the primary surgical technique for the past 50 years has been the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Since bone spurs form at the margins of the discs as they degenerate, these operations involve a discectomy, or the removal of the entire cervical disc, plus any bone spurs that border the discs.

Over the last two decades, spine surgeons at Emory have been leading the way in performing several innovative cervical spine procedures: laminoforaminotomy, artificial cervical disc, and laminoplasty. These procedures are performed from the back, or posteriorly, and don’t require a spinal fusion, thereby allowing patients to retain range of motion in the neck and also get back to their normal activities more quickly.

How do surgeons at Emory determine if one of these procedures might be right for you?

The first, laminoforaminotomy, is reserved for disc herniations that sit far enough to the side of the spinal canal that they do not compress the spinal cord. This procedure has been performed for many years, but new technology is allowing it to now be done using a minimally invasive microsurgical technique.

The second, for patients who meet the right selection criteria, is an artificial cervical disc, which may be inserted in place of the traditional bone graft with a plate and screws. This artificial disc is a moving part that’s ready for use when the patient wakes from anesthesia. Essentially, this procedure is a “get up and go” operation that avoids most of the limitations we traditionally impose on fusion patients while they heal. The artificial cervical disc is a ground-breaking option that has been very successful in clinical trials, many of which took place at Emory. Like any novel technology, longer term follow-up is needed to fully assess the risks and benefits of artificial cervical discs. But the data thus far are quite promising.

The third procedure, laminoplasty, is most often used in patients who are older and have three or more levels of spinal cord compression that would usually take three or four fusions. During this procedure, which is performed from the back of the neck, the roof of the spinal canal is re-shaped to provide more room for the spinal cord without the need for fusion. A mini-plate device, developed by surgeons at Emory Spine Center, is used during this procedure – allowing patients to move their necks right away after surgery, speeding up rehabilitation.

If you have been told you need cervical spine surgery, I would encourage you to contact the Emory Spine Center for an appointment to learn more about these innovative procedures.

Have you had or are you going to have cervical spine surgery? We’d like to hear about your experience. Please take a moment to give us feedback in the comments section below.

About John G. Heller, MD:
John G. Heller, MD, Baur Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and spine fellowship director, specializes in the research and development of instrumentation in cervical spine surgery, including disc arthroplasty and laminoplasty plates. He is the past-president of the Cervical Spine Research Society. Dr. Heller started practicing at Emory in 1989.

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Outpatient Spine Surgery? You Bet!

December 21st, 2010 By Dr. Yoon

Dr. Tim YoonMany people have misconceptions about spinal surgery. They think spinal surgery has to be a big operation or that the recovery time after surgery has to be long. The truth is that there’s a common spinal surgery we perform as an outpatient procedure here at Emory, and with it we get great results. It’s called a lumbar microdiscectomy.

A lumbar microdiscectomy may be right for you if:

  • You have leg or foot pain, weakness, or numbness.
  • You’ve tried epidural steroid injections and they just don’t work.
  • An MRI has shown that you have a disc herniation that needs surgery.

What happens during a lumbar microdiscectomy? A lumbar microdiscectomy takes an hour or less of surgical time. In most cases, you can go home the same day you have surgery—usually within a few hours after the procedure. During the procedure, your surgeon removes the small portion of the disc that has herniated (protruded) and is compressing the nerve root to relieve the neural impingement causing your pain or weakness.

Lumbar MicrodiscectomyTo reduce surgery and recovery time, we use minimally invasive techniques, including:

  • anesthesia designed for outpatient surgery
  • x-ray guidance to make the most ideal incision
  • the smallest incision possible
  • a powerful microscope for better visualization through that small incision

After the surgery, you’ll be able to walk and do non-strenuous activities right away.

Our success rate at Emory for a lumbar microdiscectomy is very high, with patients often experiencing complete relief of pre-operative leg pain immediately after surgery.

Have you had a lumbar microdiscectomy, or would you like to learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery at Emory? We welcome your questions and feedback in the comments section below.

S. Tim Yoon, MD, PhD, specializes in minimally invasive surgery and is assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and chief of Orthopedics at the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Atlanta. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Yoon started practicing at Emory in 2000.

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Been Told you Need Spine Surgery? Be Sure to Get a Second Opinion

November 5th, 2010 By Dr. Boden

If you’ve been told you need spine surgery, here are some thoughts to consider first:

1) 90% of back/neck problems will resolve without surgery.

2) Rates of recommending surgery for the same problem vary widely in different parts of the country (and world), suggesting that the indications for surgery are not always clear.

3) Some spinal conditions have a high success rate after surgery, while other spinal conditions have less predictable success rates following surgery.

4) 98% of all spine surgery is technically elective surgery, meaning it should be the choice of the patient, not something mandated by the surgeon.

Patients should always take an active part in the decision-making process for spine surgery. You need to be sure you understand the likelihood of success, the possibility of residual or worsened symptoms, the risks of anesthesia, the risks of the spine surgery itself, and chances of recurrence in the future. If your surgeon has insisted that you must have an operation or has not discussed all of the points above with you, then you may benefit from a surgical second opinion.

Have you been told you need spine surgery? Have you already had spine surgery? Let us know about your experience. We welcome your questions and feedback in the comments section below.

About Scott D. Boden, MD:

Dr. Boden is the Director of the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, an internationally renowned surgeon, lecturer, and teacher and the driving force behind the Emory University Orthopedics and Spine Hospital (EUOSH). Dr. Boden began practicing at Emory in 1992.

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What’s So Special About a Spine Specialist?

September 23rd, 2010 By Dr. Boden

If you have back or neck pain, you may wonder whether you need to see a specialist. Why not just go to your family doctor or a general orthopedist? Any good doctor will tell you that the spine is complex and requires special attention. When it comes to spine care, you should begin with your family doctor, but if the condition isn’t improving in a few weeks, or especially if you also have radiating arm or leg pain, then a specialist is the only way to go.

A specialist is defined as a physician whose practice is limited to a particular branch of medicine or surgery, especially one who is certified by a board of physicians. All physicians have undergone a residency training program after medical school in a general area of medicine. Usually a specialist has undergone a formal fellowship training program, after residency, in a very specific field.

Spine specialists, both surgical and nonsurgical, spend the majority of their time diagnosing and treating spinal disorders. It’s our passion—it’s what we do. We use judgment based on years of experience to determine which procedures will work best in a given situation. We’re up to date on new techniques, and we know how to use available technology. At Emory, our world-class physiatrists (nonsurgical spine physicians) and our spine surgeons are perfecting tried-and-true methods and pioneering new techniques every day.

When you see a nonsurgical spine doctor, or physiatrist, for back pain, that doctor has been trained specifically to diagnose and treat your pain with all options short of surgery. And the right early treatment can lead to a faster, more complete recovery.

If, after diagnosis, you find that you are in the very small subset of patients who do need spine surgery, you want a surgeon who operates on spines every day—a specialist who can determine the best surgery for your unique situation and has the skills, an understanding of the available technology, and the surgical hours logged to do it right.

At the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center, we take the specialist concept to new levels. Not only do our patients have the most qualified spine specialists in the country working for them—they have all of them working together as a team, sharing ideas and information about patients. Our patients benefit not just from the collective wisdom of the physician they’re seeing, but also from the experience of many other physicians whom they have not seen. We make sure every patient receives the highest level of technical care and that the highest level of expertise and decision-making go into formulating each treatment plan. Moreover, the Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital (EUOSH), which opened in 2008, has the highest patient satisfaction ratings of any hospital in the United States (as measured by Press-Ganey, one of the largest independent surveyors of hospitals).

Are you thinking about seeing a spine specialist? Have you already benefited from specialized spine care? We welcome your questions and feedback in the comments section below.

About Scott D. Boden, MD:

Dr. Boden is the Director of the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, is an internationally renowned surgeon, lecturer, and teacher, and the driving force behind the Emory University Orthopedics and Spine Hospital (EUOSH). Dr. Boden started practicing at Emory in 1992.

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Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

September 8th, 2010 By Dr. Yoon

Many patients ask me if they are a candidate for minimally invasive surgery or laser surgery or video-assisted surgery. The answer is that it really depends. It depends on the diagnosis, the number of levels of discs involved, the specific anatomy of the individual patient…the list of issues to consider is very long. However, whenever possible, I use minimally invasive techniques to reduce the pain and overall recovery time after the surgery.

A wonderful illustrative case involves Billy Rider, a 77-year-old gentleman who had been very physically active his whole life. Mr. Rider’s pleasures in life included taking walks and gardening. Unfortunately, he developed spinal problems and had so much pain in his back and legs that he just couldn’t do the things that gave him joy. He could stand or walk only for very short intervals. Conservative treatments had failed, and things were getting worse. His x-rays showed a significant curvature (scoliosis), and his MRI showed multiple areas of spinal narrowing (lumbar stenosis), causing nerve pinch.

At his age and considering the extent of Mr. Rider’s problems, some surgeons may have said no to surgical treatment or compromised and performed only part of the necessary surgery. However, I thought that by combining minimally invasive surgery methods with traditional surgery, it would be possible to reduce the overall “hit” to Mr. Rider’s body. Mr. Rider, his family, and I carefully went over the options and risks and potential benefits and decided to go ahead with the surgery.

The surgery was divided into two separate days to decrease the overall stress on Mr. Rider. On the first day, we performed “anterior spinal fusion” from L1 to L5. This was done in a minimally invasive manner to place “cages” between the vertebra to regain the height that he had lost and straighten out his scoliosis significantly. Mr. Rider recovered well from this and was able to get out of bed right away. His spirits were high.

About three days later, we did the bigger surgery on Mr. Rider’s back. This involved doing the traditional laminectomies to decompress his nerves that were “pinched” by the lumbar stenosis. We then placed in screws, rods and cages to stabilize the whole curve– from T10 down to the sacrum (part of the pelvis). We were able to reduce the amount of soft-tissue injury because we had already completed much of the fusion work on the first day. It was tougher for him to recover from the second surgery, but he did much better because of the less invasive techniques we used. As a result of the surgery, he has excellent curve correction and overall alignment. He recovered nicely and was discharged to go home.

Now, when I see him in the office, Mr. Rider is one of my happiest patients because he can walk without pain, and can work in his garden again.

Have you had or are you considering having minimally invasive spine surgery? We welcome your questions and feedback in the comments section below.

About S. Tim Yoon, MD, PhD:

Dr. Yoon specializes in minimally invasive surgery and is assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and chief of Orthopedics at the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Atlanta. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Yoon started practicing at Emory in 2000.

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