Spinal & Orthopedic Surgeon

Trauma to the spine may cause injuries involving the spinal cord, vertebrae, or both. Occasionally, the spinal nerves are affected. The anatomy of the spinal column is reviewed elsewhere. Spinal cord injurie may be complete or incomplete. Spinal cord injuries occur when blunt physical force damages the vertebrae, ligaments, or disks of the spinal column, causing bruising, crushing, or tearing of spinal cord tissue, and when the spinal cord is penetrated (eg, by a gunshot or a knife wound). Such injuries can also cause vascular injury with resultant ischemia or hematoma (typically extradural), leading to further damage. All forms of injury can cause spinal cord edema, further decreasing blood flow and oxygenation. Damage may be mediated by excessive release of neurotransmitters from damaged cells, an inflammatory immune response with release of cytokines, accumulation of free radicals, and apoptosis.

A nerve root block is an injection of local anesthetic (numbing medicine) and steroid injected under X-ray guidance into the area where the nerve exits the spinal column. A nerve root block is usually ordered by your doctor for pain in the arm or leg that follows the path of a single nerve. A nerve root block may be diagnostic (a test to determine the source of your pain) and/or therapeutic (to relieve your pain). If you get a period of sustained pain relief from the injection, the block may be repeated. Sometimes the block is done to help identify whether or not surgery might be helpful and at what level such surgery might be most helpful.

Vertebroplasty is an outpatient procedure for stabilizing compression fractures in the spine. Bone cement is injected into back bones (vertebrae) that have cracked or broken, often because of osteoporosis. The cement hardens, stabilizing the fractures and supporting your spine. For people with severe, disabling pain caused by a compression fracture, vertebroplasty can relieve pain, increase mobility and reduce the use of pain medication. We provide satisfactory and standard procedures and make sure these procedures provide benefits over more conservative approach including bed rest, pain relievers, muscle relaxants, back braces and physical therapy.

• Trauma
• Arthroplasty
• Sports surgery

Orthopedic trauma is a serious injury to any part of your musculoskeletal system following a traumatic incident involving a collision or crushing force. This is especially common among car accident victims, athletes, and patients who are weak or have brittle bones. These injuries may or may not be life-threatening, but they always need highly specialized medical care. For instance, patients with multiple broken bones or compound fractures will benefit from the unique capabilities of orthopedic trauma medicine practitioners and orthopedic trauma surgeons. Our surgeons follow their patients’ recovery and are there to oversee or track every phase of care. A patient who has experienced orthopedic trauma is at risk of infection, blood loss, permanent injury, disability, or even death, so continuity of care is imperative.

• Selective nerve roots block & SNRB/ TFESI
• Caudal ESI