New Technologies and Outpatient Spine Care Make High-Quality Spine Procedures More Cost Efficient

21 Mar 2019 Mazor X, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Outpatient, Revision Surgery, Scoliosis, Spine News

The increased usage of new (often minimally invasive) techniques have allowed existing and new procedures to be performed safely and effectively with outpatients procedures at a much lower cost. Minimally invasive procedures, as opposed to open procedures, mean patients are no longer required to stay overnight in hospitals.

There are a number of ways outpatient surgeries and procedures are helpful for patients as well as medical professionals. Outpatient surgeries are in many ways easier for patients, and there are also inherent benefits for doctors and care centers.  

Convenience of Outpatient Spine Procedures

The most obvious benefit associated with outpatient surgery and other procedures is that it can be easier and more comfortable for patients and their families. A hospital can be an intimidating setting for some individuals, where as undergoing a small operation at a physician’s office or other facility may be preferable. This also is beneficial because it allows patients to recover at their own home, which  can be beneficial to children who worry about their parents away from home.

The physicians will also have much more flexibility in scheduling an outpatient procedure performed in the office or a surgery center.

Cost Savings For Spine Patients

Another major consideration for these types of operations is the enormous potential for cutting costs. Patients do not face room charges at a hospital, and some insurance companies have more lenient coverage for outpatient procedures. According to Becker’s Healthcare, there are tremendous savings associated with outpatient surgeries when compared to the same procedure in a standard facility. For example, patients who underwent outpatient lumbar spine surgery in 2014 saved $320 on average, while across the board these operations cost $8,475 less than they would have at a regular OR.

If you would like to learn more about the orthopedic surgical procedures available at our outpatient surgery centers, please contact us at Joseph Spine and one of our team members will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

About Joseph Spine

Joseph Spine is an advanced center for spine, scoliosis and minimally invasive surgery. Founded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, a fellowship trained, board certified orthopedic surgeon. His practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders. Dr. Joseph is also among a select group of surgeons to offer cutting edge regenerative injection therapy.

Tampa Bay Spine Surgeons Travel to the Dominican Republic to Offer Hope to Patients with Debilitating Spine Conditions

1 Mar 2019 Spine News

 

 

 

Butterfly Foundation Spinal Mission Trip

The Butterfly Foundation’s spinal deformity mission trip changes the lives of 23 young patients as volunteers and generous donors dedicate their time not only provide surgical treatment for patients, but also to train local physicians in surgical procedures that can continue to serve the people of the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Samuel Joseph and Dr. Andrew Moulton, along with a dedicated team of volunteers traveled to the Dominican Republic over Valentine’s week to save the lives of children and young adults with severe spinal deformities.

https://youtu.be/4DfKFy-xs6g

The volunteers had a grueling schedule which included 4 to 5 surgeries daily for the week, along with patient screenings and lectures to orthopedic residents. The team performed 23 scoliosis and kyphosis cases and stated he was seeing one of the most severe cases they had ever come across. Dr. Samuel Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine of Tampa and neurosurgeon Dr. Salvatore Zavarella from New York performed the most severe case.  The patient was suffering extreme kyphosis. This patient was actually a somewhat rare instance of the team taking on an adult case, 36 year old female that said to her husband less than 12 hours post op when looking in the mirror sitting up, “I feel like a super model”.

“We have seen this hundreds of times before, she is now the butterfly escaping the bound up cocoon and with thrive,” Dr. Moulton.

Before and after surgery extreme case of kyphosis. Surgery performed by Dr. Samuel Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine of Tampa and neurosurgeon Dr. Salvatore Zavarella from New York.

Although the days were long the team was energized by the work they were doing and the gratitude of their young patients. 


“It felt amazing to have a direct effect on a child’s life and not only improve their appearance but improve their quality of life and life expectancy,” stated Dr. Joseph.  “Thinking about how many people this child will then affect in their life makes you really take a step back and be humbled by what we as a team are so fortunate and blessed to be able to do.”

Many of these young patients travel great distances to receive surgery. Most of the patients have been long suffering from adolescent or congenital scoliosis or in need of kyphosis correction. These young patients are heroes themselves, braving the travel and unfamiliarity with their surgeons. The surgeons and other volunteers take extra time with these children to help them cope with the upcoming days.


“Meeting strangers and allowing them to perform dangerous and painful surgery was a great leap of faith,” Dr. Moulton.

Many of these cases were quite severe. Dr. Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine in Tampa, performed an eight hour surgery, along with neurosurgeon Dr. Salvatore Zavarella from New York. The patient was somewhat of a rare instance of an adult with a severe kyphosis case. The patient had lived with this severe deformity since childhood and it had devastating social consequences for her throughout her life.  She stood up the day after surgery holding Dr. Joseph and looked straight forward without craning her pelvis and neck essentially for the first time in her life.

The Butterfly Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the sharing of spine surgery technology, expertise and care to patients and to teaching spinal deformity surgery in developing countries. Local physicians work alongside establish deformity corrective surgeons such as Dr. Joseph and Dr. Moulton as they perform live-saving surgeries, while promoting the advancement of spine deformity treatment technology by training local surgeons.

The Butterfly Foundation was founded by Dr. Moulton in 2003. He was inspired to start the foundation as he realized the mission trips could only provide help to a small percentage of the population. In order to make a real difference for the population it was necessary to train local surgeons. 

“Teach a man to fish and he feeds his community for a lifetime is our motto,” states Dr. Moulton.

Dr. Moulton explains how the name “Butterfly Foundation” was chosen. 


“Because of society’s attitudes toward their deformity, we saw how these kids would come in, bundled up, socially withdrawn, embarrassed, even outcast. Once they have their surgeries and heal, they stand up straight, they run, and they jump and play. There’s such a profound joy to see them move so freely, without pain. Their transformation reminded us of how a butterfly is born and the name stuck.”

World’s First Lumbar Fusion with 3D Printed Spinal Implant Aries-L

10 Jan 2019 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine News

Osseus’ innovative and proprietary 3D printed technology provides surgeon-inspired spinal implants that fit perfectly with the patient’s anatomy which can be produced faster and more economically than traditional methods and provides better patient outcomes. 

On Tuesday, January 8, Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr., assisted by Dr. Andrew Moulton of Joseph Spine are the first in the world to use Osseus Fusion Systems revolutionary 3D Printed Aries Titanium Spinal Implant. “As a surgeon, it’s very exciting to participate in the device development process and see your ideas brought to life so quickly,” commented Dr. Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine. “Today we were able to successfully implement this cutting edge, patient-specific spinal implant that addresses the complex anatomy of the spine and the delicate nature of it surrounding structures. ”

“Through 3D printing we are able to manufacture spinal implants that are customized to the patient”, stated Dr. Joseph, “Meaning the size of their disc, the size of their vertebra, how high  the vertebra may be, as well as the curvature they may have in their back we are trying to create. With this cutting edge technology we can offer our patients implants such as the Aries L Interbody Fusion Device which can be created at a certain height, a certain length, as well as a certain angle, which offers our patients better, customized care, which results in better outcomes for the patients.”

“Working with Osseus and utilizing their technology for spinal implants provides us with a great opportunity for superior patient care. Osseus understands that the future of advanced spine care is in the technology of custom implants as well as creating partnerships with doctors to create customized implants that offer:

  • better solutions for our patients with spinal problems,
  • in a way that is more effective, 
  • that is less traumatic to the patient’s body, 
  • with a minimally invasive technique, which also becomes,
  • more cost effective as it may reduce 
  • the amount of biologics necessary to allow for bones to heal

This, in turn allows better outcomes for our patients.” stated Dr. Joseph.

The Aries-L interbody fusion device features a proprietary multi-axis mesh and optimized micro-surface topology, both of which are designed to facilitate fusion. The product’s lattice helps increase the implant’s porosity to 80%, which provides unparalleled in-situ radiovisibility compared with other titanium implants. The implant’s anatomic profile, anti-migrational teeth, and streamlined insertion promote reduced recovery time by helping increase procedural efficiencies. 

Proprietary multi-axis mesh is designed to facilitate bone fusion throughout the implant.

About Joseph Spine

Joseph Spine is an advanced center for spine, scoliosis and minimally invasive surgery. Founded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, a fellowship trained, board certified orthopedic surgeon. His practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders. Dr. Joseph is also among a select group of surgeons to offer cutting-edge regenerative injection therapy (Stem Cell Therapy).

About Osseus Fusion Systems Osseus is a medical device firm focused on unique, novel and new technology products, including: the Black Diamond Pedicle Screw System (PSS) – a trailblazing fixation system technology, White Pearl Preferred Angle Anterior Cervical Plate (ACP) – a cervical spine fixation device, and Red Ruby Anchored Cervical Interbody (ACI) – a revisable cervical Interbody system.

dr. joseph laser spine surgeon

Laser Spine Surgery vs. Minimally Invasive

4 Dec 2018 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine News , , , , , , ,

The Importance of Understanding The Differences of Laser Spine Surgery vs. Minimally Invasive

Spine Surgery Technique vs Spine Surgery Tool

There are numerous minimally invasive spine procedures available for patients today. Minimally invasive surgical techniques utilize specialized instruments, which allow a surgical procedure to be done through smaller incisions with much less tissue disruption.

With all of the marketing buzz about laser spine surgery, it is important to understand the difference between the laser as a tool for minimally invasive surgery vs. many new advances in technology in the form of tools, techniques and minimally invasive spine procedures.

Minimally invasive spine surgery more often does not involve the use of a laser. It is important to understand that a laser is just a cutting tool that may sometimes be used in place of a scalpel to cut through soft tissues, such as discs and ligaments.

While lasers can be effective for some procedures, they aren’t necessary to achieve successful results and in many cases could be harmful. Most people consider laser surgery to be the most up-to-date, top-of-the-line surgery available, but in many cases, spine surgery is more effective when the surgeon uses minimally invasive techniques with a scalpel, rather than a laser.

The fact is that most spine surgeons do not use or recommend the use of lasers for spine surgery because there are no clear benefits and there are other well-established and documented studies proving the effectiveness of more modern and established spine surgery techniques.

Dramatic Advances In Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)

FDA Approved Medical Device for Spinal Fusion

Based in Dallas, Texas, Osseus Fusion Systems is a medical device manufacturer that is focused on the development of new medical products and treatments that are minimally invasive. Osseus offers its Aries lumbar interbody fusion devices in a range of sizes and lordotic angles. Within the medical industry, additive manufacturing is increasingly enabling patient-specific solutions—for implants, surgical guides and more.

 

 

Techniques of MISS have developed rapidly in the past few decades. The spectrum of MISS now includes spinal degenerative diseases, spinal trauma, spinal deformity and spinal tumors. Surgical materials, nerve monitoring, and computer-aided navigation have improved significantly. With these techniques, the risks, recovery time, and surgical complications have significantly decreased.

Which Surgical Tool Will Offer Precision?

With the intricacy of the human spine, laser spine surgery may not be the best procedure but could also be an extremely harmful procedure in many cases.

Lasers do not have the ability to maneuver around corners to reach the appropriate areas required in most spinal surgeries. A laser is a straight beam of light, while a skilled surgeon can use the scalpel and other tools to achieve great precision and maneuverability for a successful outcome. Lasers cut the soft tissue using heat, which can be transferred to the structures surrounding the area being worked on. This can lead to nerve damage, which can cause incontinence and loss of function.

A laser is another tool a surgeon will use in the operating room. It is the assumption of most lay people that a laser equals precision.  That assumption can be a very dangerous one.

A skilled surgeon, with a scalpel, is just as precise, or more, as a laser without the risk of damage from heat. The majority of clinical studies in well-respected peer reviewed journals call into question the efficacy of lasers regarding spine surgery.

Choose Your Spine Surgeon Not the Tool 

The most important decision you will make when preparing for spine surgery, or any spine treatment is choosing a well-respected and exceptionally trained surgeon.

What to Look for in a Spine Surgeon

It is important for patients to be as involved as possible in their own medical care. This includes the choice of doctors. Some managed care programs leave little room for choice, but if you are able to choose your physician, here are some guidelines on what to look for in a spine specialist:

  • Make sure the spine surgeon is board certified (or board eligible) and fellowship trained in spine.
    This means that in addition to the usual surgical residency requirements, he or she has completed a fellowship program in spine that included at least one additional year of training specific to spine surgery.
  • Choose a spine surgeon who devotes at least 50% of his or her practice to the treatment of spinal conditionsA physician who sees mostly spine patients will be more up-to-date on newer technologies and techniques than a physician who only sees spine patients occasionally.
  • In addition to the physician’s credentials, make sure the physician you choose is someone you feel comfortable with.After all, finding a physician you can trust is almost as important as his or her experience. Good communication is essential in a doctor/patient relationship.
  • Talk to the physician about his or her experience with the latest techniques and technologies in spine surgery.

Kyphoplasty Minimally Invasive Procedure for Compression Fractures

16 Nov 2018 Back Pain, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine News , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kyphoplasty has transformed the way we are able to take care of patients with compression fractures. In this segment, Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr., will review what you can expect and the benefits of this minimally invasive spine procedure. 

Kyphoplasty may be recommended for damaged vertebrae or certain spinal fractures. In most cases, a weakening of the bones (osteoporosis) has caused the vertebrae to compress or collapse, causing pain or a hunched posture.

The procedure may be performed as an outpatient in 30 minutes or less. The relief from pain may be immediate and patients may resume normal activities immediately.

Kyphoplasty uses a small balloon that gently lifts bone fragments into their correct position.  The balloon is inflated to create a space that the surgeon later fills with a special bone cement. The bone cement creates an internal cast that holds the vertebra in place. This extra feature allows kyphoplasty to help restore vertebral height, and thus, help reduce spinal deformity.  It also allows a thicker cement to be used which has less risk of leaking out and causing complications.

It is important to accurately diagnose vertebral compression fractures, as there are a number of potential adverse effects if a diagnosis is missed and there is no treatment. In general, vertebral fractures are associated with both increased morbidity which includes continued pain, decreased physical function, deformity, and potentially social isolation, all of which negatively impact the individual’s overall quality of and enjoyment of life. Mortality is also associated with vertebral fractures, as women diagnosed with a compression fracture of the spine have a 15% higher mortality rate than those who do not experience fractures.

FDA Approved Medical Device for Spinal Fusion

FDA Clears New Surgeon Inspired 3D Printing Device for Lumbar Fusion

16 Oct 2018 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine News , , , , , , ,

Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr. worked alongside medical device firm Osseus Fusion Systems to develop the newly FDA approved 3D printed Aries titanium spinal implants. The approval marks one of the largest FDA clearances for a family of 3D printed spinal devices of that kind.

Partnering with Pioneers in Spine Medicine

By partnering with pioneers in the medical industry such as Osseus, Dr. Joseph can offer his expertise as an exceptionally trained spine surgeon to help develop new products and procedures. Combining cutting-edge research with new technology Joseph Spine may offer spine patients new hope for a pain-free life.

Surgeon Inspired Spinal Implants

“As a surgeon, it’s very exciting to participate in the device development process and see your ideas brought to life so quickly,” commented Dr. Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine. “Using 3D printing, we were able to go from design to prototype, to finished product much faster than with traditional manufacturing—which means patients get access to more advanced treatments sooner, too.”

“Osseus is unique in our ability to bring surgeon-inspired implants to market quicker than any competitor, and our focus on R&D delivers unparalleled performance and quality to our surgeons and patients,” said Eric Hansen, Co-Founder, and CEO of Osseus. Osseus’ newly approved Aries family of lumbar interbody fusion devices is, the company says, one of the most comprehensive groups of 3D printed devices in the spinal and orthopedic industries. The family, comprising of Aries-TS, Aries-TC, Aries-A, Aries-L and Aries-O offer implant solutions for lateral (LLIF), anterior (ALIF), straight and curved transforaminal (TLIF) and oblique (OLIF) procedures.

Aries Titanium Spinal Implants

The 3D printed devices are constructed from a highly porous titanium metal which has been optimized for bone integration and fusion. The creation of the implants has been enabled largely by Osseus’ proprietary 3D printing platform, PL3XUS. Interestingly, the company says its titanium implants are some of the most porous spinal implants out there, with porosity rates of 80% or higher.

Lumbar-Fusion-3d-printing-Device

The 3D printed medical devices also integrate a proprietary mesh lattice which acts to reduce stiffness and to maximize bone graft packability. In other words, the mesh lattice structure is specifically designed to encourage bone cell fixation and proliferation, ultimately resulting in faster recovery times after implantation.

The recent FDA clearance for its medical device family marks Osseus’ fourth FDA 510(k) clearance.

About Joseph Spine

Joseph Spine is an advanced center for spine, scoliosis and minimally invasive surgery. Founded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, a fellowship trained, board certified orthopedic surgeon. His practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders. Dr. Joseph is also among a select group of surgeons to offer cutting-edge regenerative injection therapy (Stem Cell Therapy).

About Osseus Fusion Systems

Osseus is a medical device firm focused on unique, novel and new technology products, including: the Black Diamond Pedicle Screw System (PSS) – a trailblazing fixation system technology, White Pearl Preferred Angle Anterior Cervical Plate (ACP) – a cervical spine fixation device, and Red Ruby Anchored Cervical Interbody (ACI) – a revisable cervical Interbody system.

dr-joseph-spine-surgery-tampa-

Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr. Awarded Top 20 Under 40 Spine Surgeons by NASS

24 Sep 2018 Spine News , , , , ,

Joseph Spine, Advanced Center for Spine Care is proud to announce that our founder Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr., Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon (ABOS) has been selected as a recipient of North American Spine Society (NASS), SpineLine’s inaugural “20 Under 40” recognizing outstanding spine surgeons across the country. 

Dr. Joseph, as well as the other recipients, have been featured in SpineLine’s online magazine and will be recognized at the 2018 NASS Annual Meeting, in Los Angeles, September 26 – 29th, 2018.

NASS Annual Meeting is where spine care professionals from around the globe will share the latest information, innovative techniques and procedures, best practices, and new technologies in spine medicine. 

The Annual Meeting provides a unique opportunity for spine care professionals to learn and gain skills through dynamic and challenging educational programs, the ability to network and build relationships with your colleagues and leading experts in spine care.

About Dr. Joseph

Dr. Joseph is a board certified, fellowship-trained, orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in advanced spine care. He is a leader in new spine medicine, including Stem Cell Therapy, Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery, and participated with the Medical device firm Osseus Fusion Systems to develop its Aries family of 3D printed lumbar interbody fusion devices that have received FDA 510(k) clearance.

About Joseph Spine

Joseph Spine is the advanced center for spine, scoliosis and minimally invasive spine surgery. Founded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr., a fellowship trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon. His practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, physical therapy, pain management, stem cell therapy, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted surgery, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders. Dr. Joseph is among a select group of surgeons to offer cutting-edge regenerative injection (stem cell) therapy and robotic-assisted surgery for patients to provide the most advanced minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) available globally. Joseph Spine has four locations in Tampa Bay, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor, and Brandon, FL. Joseph Spine is dedicated to offering humanitarian spine services internationally in the form of education, awareness, and surgery. Please visit JosephSpine.com for more information.

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone, which literally means porous bone, and is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased.

Osteoporosis the Silent Killer – October 20, Osteoporosis Awareness Day

18 Sep 2018 Back Pain, Spine News, Spine Patient Resources , , , , ,

World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually on October 20th and launches a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. Joseph Spine joins the community to raise awareness to this silent disease progression.
 

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder in which the density and quality of bones are reduced, leading to weakness of the skeleton and increased risk of fracture, particularly of the spine, wrist, and hip. This disease often occurs silently without symptom and the first symptom is a fracture, which is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone, which literally means porous bone, and is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased.
 

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Dr. Ron Chatterjee Provides Interventional Pain Management to Spine Patients At Joseph Spine Advanced Center for Spine Care

14 Sep 2018 Back Pain, Pain Management, Spine News

Joseph Spine is pleased to announce Dr. Ron Chatterjee has joined our practice in all locations, including our new location in Brandon Florida that will focus on Interventional Pain Management.

“It is Joseph Spine’s goal to use a multifaceted approach to treating our patients that come to us in pain, said Dr. Samuel Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine. “Having Dr. Chatterjee on our team allows us to remain a leading provider of minimally invasive treatments for pain, and delivering on our promise to provide patient-focused, customized spine care and pain relief to our patients.”

Dr. Chatterjee specializes in diagnosing and treating acute and chronic pain syndromes through a variety of techniques. His goal is to quickly relieve pain and restore function to his patients. From the training he received, his focus is on pain originating from the spine and affecting any part of the body, although he has a strong ability to assess all types of pain and distinguishing its source.

Dr. Chatterjee also has expertise in the management of sports-related injuries and has been the team physicians for high school football and independent professional baseball teams, along with working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His education in physical medicine and rehabilitation has allowed him to help patients successfully improve their quality of life and be as independent as possible through multiple modalities.

Dr. Chatterjee is a physician that will always spend extra time with patients making sure their problems are addressed and ensuring they receive the best care available. He is up-to-date with all current treatments including regenerative and stem cell treatments. Dr. Chatterjee is not only interested in improving your current pain and disability, but also your long-term health through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and holistic approach.

Dr. Ron Chatterjee was accepted into the highly sought-after and competitive BS/MD program right after high school. He received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree at Kent State University. Dr. Chatterjee studied abroad at Leicester University in Leicester, England after leaving Kent State and before his medical doctorate program began. He then proceeded to Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (now called Northeast Ohio Medical University) where he completed his medical degree.Dr. Chatterjee went on to a transitional year internship at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio.

Dr. Chatterjee completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Chatterjee was fellowship trained in Interventional Spine and Sports Medicine at Ahwatukee Sports and Spine in Phoenix, Arizona.

About Joseph Spine

Joseph Spine is the advanced center for spine, scoliosis and minimally invasive spine surgery. Founded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr., a fellowship trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon. His practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, physical therapy, pain management, stem cell therapy,  disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted surgery, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders. Dr. Joseph is among a select group of surgeons to offer cutting-edge regenerative injection (stem cell) therapy and robotic-assisted surgery for patients to provide the most advanced minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) available globally.

Joseph Spine has four locations in Tampa Bay, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor, and Brandon, FL.

Joseph Spine is dedicated to offering humanitarian spine services internationally in the form of education, awareness, and surgery. Please visit JosephSpine.com for more information.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Symptoms and Treatments

25 Jun 2018 Scoliosis, Spine News , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Types of Structural Scoliosis

There are several types of structural scoliosis. In this video, Dr. Joseph will discuss the most common type of scoliosis, review symptoms and outline treatment options available for patients.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for about 8 in 10 cases of scoliosis. This type of scoliosis typically presents during adolescence, but it can also start earlier in childhood or infancy. What causes idiopathic scoliosis is currently unknown. Researchers discovered a gene that is believed to be associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis only a few years ago.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is an abnormal C-shaped or S-shaped curvature of the spine. The curvature of the spine is measured by the Cobb angle. A Cobb angle greater than 15° is considered scoliosis.

Symptoms of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Symptoms include back pain, unequal leg lengths, uneven hips, uneven shoulders (one shoulder appears higher than the other), abnormal gait, as well as breathing difficulties when the rib cage puts pressure on the lungs. When left untreated, the deformity might progress significantly. For milder cases, your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatment such as bracing. Braces are usually worn for several hours daily. This can be effective if the child is still growing and has a Cobb angle between 25° and 45°.
In progressive cases, or when the Cobb angle is greater than 45°, your doctor may recommend surgery to straighten and fixate the spine, by placing implants such as screws, rods, hooks, and wires in and along the spine.

Surgery treats but does not cure scoliosis. It corrects the abnormal curvature and prevents further progression of the disease.

Surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis requires planning and precision. Each scoliotic curvature has unique challenges, and often the patient’s vertebrae are deformed, twisted and abnormally small, which makes for a challenging surgery. Mazor’s core technology allows surgeons to plan ahead before entering the operating room; Mazor Robotics advanced 3D planning software is used before surgery to create the procedure for each patient’s condition. During the operation, the physician does the actual work; Mazor X guides the surgeon’s tools according to the predetermined blueprint to place the implants.

About Joseph Spine

Joseph Spine is an advanced center for spine, scoliosis and minimally invasive spine surgery. Founded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, a fellowship trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon. His practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders. Dr. Joseph is also among a select group of surgeons to offer cutting-edge regenerative injection (stem cell) therapy.

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