Keck : Department of Neurological Surgery : Clinical Activities : Spinal Surgery

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Spinal Surgery

The Spinal Surgery Program is led by Dr. Srinath Samudrala. Other faculty members include Dr. Michael Wang, Peter Gruen, Thomas Chen and Charles Liu. We have training in both neurosurgical and orthopedic spine surgery, and have integrated the knowledge of both disciplines to provide state-of-the-art treatment of spine disease. There is extensive training in minimally invasive procedures. The physicians are adept at using all modern forms of instrumentation (plates, screws, cages, rods, wires) to deal effectively with the problem. There is a detailed non-operative treatment protocol including weight loss, physical therapy, orthotics which combined with the expertise of other physicians will attempt to treat most symptoms initially with conservative treatment.

PATIENT EDUCATION

GLOSSARY (A-E)
GLOSSARY (F-L)
GLOSSARY (M-R)
GLOSSARY (S-Z)

Treatment Options: Neck (Cervical)

Treatment Options: Low Back (Lumbar)

Treatment Options: Scoliosis

Facet Rhizotomy
A minimally invasive procedure that is performed for the treatment of back pain

Bone Grafts

Cervical Radiculopathy
Treatment: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical laminectomy

Cervical Myelopathy
Treatment: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical laminectomy

Post Traumatic Cervical Instability
Treatment: Cervical fusion with instrumentation

Lumbar Disc Disease (sciatica)
Treatment: laminectomy, microdiscectomy

Spinal Stenosis
Treatment: laminectomy, laminotomy

Thoracic Disc Disease
Treatment: endoscopic discectomy, transthoracic discectomy

Tumors of the Spine and Spinal Cord
Treatment: laminectomy, corpectomy

Fractures of the Spine
Treatment: fusion, instrumentation

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Spine
Treatment: Transoral decompression, occipital cervical fusions

Chiari Malformations
Treatment: suboccipital decompressions

Hydromyelia or Syringomyelia
Treatment: spinal subarachnoid shunts

Infections of the Spine (Osteomyelitis, TB, Discitis)
Treatment: debridement, fusion

Spondylolisthesis
Treatment: fusion with bone, fusion with instrumentation

Neck and Back Pain
Treatment: fusion with bone, fusion with instrumentation

Curvature of the Spine
Treatment: fusion

Non-operative treatment for all of the above:
Treatment: Bracing, Physical Therapy, etc.

CASE PRESENTATIONS

Artificial Disc Arthroplasty (also called a disc replacement, disc prosthesis or spine arthroplasty device)
View a case description

PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY