Joseph Spine Institute’s Inspirational Patient Robert Zorn

14 Jun 2023 Spine News , , ,

The Importance of Meaningful Patient Relationships

. As spine doctors and surgeons, we have the great honor to make a profound difference in our patients’ lives, ease their pain and suffering and improving their overall health and wellbeing. That is our ultimate desire and focus. The fulfillment that comes from helping our patients cannot be overemphasized. Forming meaningful relationships and open communication with patients and their families can be profoundly rewarding and extremely inspiring.

Recognizing Our Inspiring Patient Robert Zorn

With that in mind all of us at Joseph Spine Institute would like to recognize and thank our inspirational patient, Robert Zorn. His resilience, optimism and desire to make others feel appreciated and recognized, even amidst his own challenges, is quite a beautiful and humbling experience. We appreciate you Robert, and the time you took out of your day to come by and let us know that we have made a positive impact on your life! Well, right back at you Robert! You have made a positive and motivating impact on all of us at here JSI. Your kind words encourage us to be even better, strive harder to incorporate new advanced spine care techniques, and most importantly make a strong connection with our patients and their families so we can deliver the ultimate in spine care.

Thank you, Robert, today we recognize you and the inspiration and kindness you have brought to us at Joseph Spine Institute!

The Great Communicator – The Human Spine

3 May 2023 Spine News , , , ,

The spine is a complex structure that is responsible for several functions, including providing support to the body, protecting the spinal cord, and facilitating movement.

The spine communicates with the body in several ways, including:

  1. Nerves: The spine contains nerves that run along its length and branch out to various parts of the body. These nerves are responsible for sending and receiving signals between the brain and the body, allowing for movement, sensation, and other bodily functions.
  2. Blood vessels: The spine is also connected to a network of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the spinal cord and surrounding tissues.
  3. Muscles: The muscles that attach to the spine also play a role in communication with the body. These muscles help to support the spine and facilitate movement, and they also provide feedback to the brain about the position and movement of the body.

Overall, the spine is an integral part of the body’s nervous, vascular, and musculoskeletal systems, and it communicates with the body in various ways to ensure proper function and movement.

Walk-for Wishes Tampa Bay Presented by Joseph Spine Institute, Raises Funds to Grant 20 Wishes for Wish Bay Area Kids

6 Apr 2023 Spine News

Joseph Spine Institute was the presenting sponsor for this special Make a Wish Foundation Southern Florida event at Water Works Park on Saturday, April 1st. The event raised enough money to grant the heartfelt wishes of 20 children battling critical illnesses in the Tampa Bay community.

The Walk for Wishes is an annual fundraising event organized by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which aims to raise money to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses. The event typically involves participants walking or running a designated route, while also raising money through donations and sponsorships.

The Tampa Walk for Wishes event raised $156,000.00 in funds, which would be used to grant wishes for 20 wish kids. This means that each wish child would receive a unique and personalized wish, which could range from meeting their favorite celebrity to going on a dream vacation.

The success of the Walk for Wishes event in raising funds and granting wishes reflects the dedication and generosity of the community, as well as the impact that the Make-A-Wish Foundation has on the lives of children with critical illnesses and their families.

About The Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses, in order to provide hope, strength, and joy to the children and their families.

About Joseph Spine Institute

Joseph Spine Institute (JSI) was founded in 2016 by Dr. Samuel Joseph. He has assembled a comprehensive team of highly skilled spine specialists that are devoted to offering the highest level of spine care available today. He has also strategically partnered with some of the most innovative leaders in the spine care industry today in order to bring our patients the latest in technology, products and resources.

From state-of-the-art technology, to alternate therapies and interventional pain management treatments our industry leading spine care practice offers our patients a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of spinal conditions. Our highly-trained surgeons offer an integrated approach to patients that includes surgical and non-surgical options such as pain management and physical therapy.

Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr. Announces the Founding of the International Spine Foundation

10 Jun 2022 Spine Foundation, Spine News

Philanthropic Spine Care

The International Spine Foundation is a non-profit that endeavors to bring the healing power of technologically advanced spinal treatments and procedures to people of all walks of life. Through Dr. Samuel Joseph’s expertise, charity, and passion, lives have been indelibly altered and changed.

For that reason, Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine Institute is proudly announcing the opening of the International Spine Foundation. This opening comes at a time when the Joseph Spine Institute is celebrating over five years in business, establishing itself as the premier spinal surgery institution in the Tampa Bay area.

What means so much more than the innovative spine treatments, the pioneering surgeries, and representing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the charitable and philanthropic work that Dr. Joseph has undertaken.

“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,” Dr. Joseph told reporters in 2019 when Dr. Samuel Joseph along with a dedicated team of volunteers traveled to the Dominican Republic to save the lives of children and young adults with severe spinal deformities.

“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.” 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. This was one trip of many, a trip that inspired Dr. Joseph to find new ways to help the underserved.

Make A Wish Foundation

Dr. Joseph and his family are active members of the Tampa Bay community. They have taken a special interest in the Make a Wish Foundation and its goal of granting wishes and making life better for kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

Dr. Joseph, along with his fellow co-founders, Elizabeth Joseph and Dr. Uhuru Smith, hope to broaden his impact locally, nationally and internationally, helping people of all backgrounds get access to lifesaving spinal surgeries.

About Dr. Samuel Joseph
Dr. Joseph is the founder of the International Spine Foundation and the Joseph Spine Institute. He is dedicated to pioneering minimally invasive, outpatient surgical procedures. Dr. Joseph is at the forefront of endoscopic spine surgery and a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dr. Joseph’s 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 has used his training and experience to become a nationwide leader on revision surgery for patients who have experienced failed surgery in the past. These patients have traveled to see Dr. Joseph not only from the Tampa Bay area but from all over the state and the nation.

Dr. Joseph has published numerous articles in neurosurgical and orthopedic spine journals. His research on scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal surgery in the elderly has been presented at many international meetings including the International Meeting for Advanced Spinal Techniques.

With the founding of this non-profit, he and his family hope to create lasting change for those affected by spinal issues.

About Dr. Uhuru Smith
Dr. Smith is a board-certified Anesthesiologist and is one of four founding partners of Intrepid Anesthesia which she launched in 2021. Intrepid Anesthesia not only focuses on providing anesthesia services for both inpatient and outpatient surgical environments, but also provides management, consultation and billing services for both inpatient and outpatient facilities. Further, Dr. Smith concurrently serves at the Chief of Anesthesiology and Chief Medical Officer at Riverwalk Ambulatory Surgery Center. Prior to the inception of Intrepid Anesthesia Dr. Smith served as the Chief of Anesthesiology at The Advanced Surgery of Center for 7 years while building a comprehensive outpatient orthopedics, total joint and spine program. During this time, she expanded services in acute pain for complex outpatient spine, orthopedic surgery and pain procedures in chronically ill patients.

Dr. Smith nurtured her love of complementary medicine and entrepreneurship by opening the first and most successful IV wellness clinic in Tampa, RENEW IV Wellness. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, Dr. Smith sold RENEW but continued to practice anesthesiology and critical care throughout her treatment.

After beating breast cancer and returning to full time practice, Dr. Smith has furthered her practice by improving surgical outcomes in complex outpatient surgery by utilizing innovative and complimentary approaches in order to provide treatment for both acute and surgical pain.

Dr. Smith has strong personal interests in research, education, regenerative, and complimentary medicine as adjunct to allopathic medicine. Dr. Smith aspires to use these interests to further improve the way we approach pain, orthopedic spine, and outpatient surgery.

Celebrating 5 Years Pioneering Minimally Invasive Spine Procedure

3 Feb 2022 Spine News

We are celebrating five awe-inspiring years serving spine patients and introducing innovative minimally invasive spine procedures to Tampa Bay.

It is truly a marvel that Joseph Spine Institute has been able to serve countless patients with new minimally invasive spine procedures  since our opening in December 2016. We are thankful for all of the invaluable contributions of our staff and the incredible courage and resilience of our spine surgery patients. In honor of them, we are looking back on the past five years, celebrating their accomplishments. Please join us in giving tribute to all the dedicated members of the Joseph Spine Institute.

Opening a practice is often a perilous but worthwhile endeavor. It requires a massive team effort to establish a practice and an even more monumental effort to grow one. With the help of amazing medical professionals, passionate administrators, and devoted team members, Joseph Spine Institute has been able to innovate in incredible ways, serving patients by forging new paths to wellness and health, with new and innovative minimally invasive spine surgery and procedures.

Dr. Joseph and Joseph Spine introduces minimally invasive injection therapy to Tampa Bay

In 2017, Dr. Joseph introduced injection therapy to Tampa Bay, providing a minimally-invasive procedure to help regenerate tissue.

Regenerative Injective Therapy (RIT)is still in 2022 considered a cutting-edge procedure that triggers the body’s natural healing mechanisms, relieving pain and often curing the cause. The emerging field of regenerative medicine features stem-cell-based therapies using autologous platelet-rich plasma/fat/bone marrow which are at the forefront of sports and regenerative medicine worldwide. RIT offers a promising new option for treating those who suffer from chronic back pain.

Regenerative medicine is revolutionizing the treatment of injured tissues as it can completely restore damaged muscles, tendons, and other tissues. Patients may benefit from this groundbreaking, non-surgical, treatment option that relieves pain by naturally promoting long-lasting healing of musculoskeletal conditions.

Dr. Joseph Is Chosen to Serve Tampa Bay Bucs

In 2017, after bringing innovative regenerative spine care to Tampa Bay, Joseph Spine Institute was incredibly humbled to serve our local football team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. More than just Super Bowl champions, these athletes are everyday heroes that we are honored to serve.

“I’m excited to be joining the Buccaneer’s medical team, where we focus on providing our athletes the highest level of medical care, utilizing state of the art technology and groundbreaking procedures, Dr. Samuel Joseph, Tampa Spine Surgeon.

Described as “steadfast and dedicated” for his service to his spine patients, as well as, his humanitarian services to the Make a Wish Foundation, the Butterfly Foundation, and teaching his Minimally Invasive Techniques throughout the world, Dr. Samuel Joseph, of Joseph Spine, has been chosen as the team Spine Surgeon for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dr. Joseph works with partner Osseus, FDA clears new surgeon inspired device for lumbar fusion

“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.”

Dr. Samuel Joseph. 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.

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.

Dr. Ron Chatterjee Joins Jospeh Spine Institute

Dr. Ron Chatterjee

Fellowship-trained, Board Certified Physical Medicine

In 2017, we welcomed the talented Dr. Chatterjee to our team. When he joined the practice, he highlighted his unique skill set and perspective. “I look forward to bringing my complimentary skill set to the team”, said Dr. Chatterjee, “My experience in the care of athletes and my expertise in the management of sports-related injuries will contribute to the comprehensive medical treatment the team receives. My goal is to quickly relieve pain and restore function to our athletes.”

Dr. Chatterjee Team Physician for Tampa Bay Bucs

Dr. Ron Chatterjee, a highly experienced, board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician has been chosen to serve as a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2019 season. He joins Dr. Samuel Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine Institute, on the field who is now entering his 3rd season with the Bucs.

As a board-certified physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation with a sub-specialty in interventional pain, spine, and sports medicine Dr. Chatterjee brings a unique and multidisciplinary skillset to the team. Chatterjee is highly trained in the treatment and prevention of sports and exercise-related injuries and improving performance.

Dr. Joseph Brings a Revolutionary Approach to Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery by Combining Robotic and Endoscopic Technologies

In 2019, our practice brought an innovative new way to approach minimally invasive spine surgery. This revolutionary approach offered new pathways to health, pain-reduction, and recovery for spine surgery patients.

“Together they compliment each other in the perfect package for revolutionizing how spine surgery is done,” Dr. Joseph said. “I am honored to bring this new procedure, combined technology and innovative products to Tampa Bay. At JSI we are dedicated to partnering with the innovators of spine medicine in order to offer our patients the most advanced spine care.”

Partnering with the innovators of cutting edge spine medicine allows JSI to provide our patients with the advantages of next-generation technology that enhances safety and allows for better patient outcomes.

Dr. Joseph Travels to the Dominican Republic to Offer Hope to Patients with Debilitating Spine Conditions

In one of the practices proudest moments, Dr. Joseph helped change a child’s life. Spinal deformities can have a severe impact on everyday life. Debilitating conditions can wreak havoc. That’s why in 2019, Dr. Joseph and a team of talented doctors volunteered their skills to lift people with severe spine conditions out of the debilitating limitations of spinal deformity.

“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,” Dr. Joseph told reporters.  “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.”

In 2019, Dr. Samuel Joseph 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.

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. 

Joseph Spine Institute Marches for the Make a Wish Foundation

In 2019, our team was driven more than ever to make a real difference in our community.Our entire team walked for the Make-a-Wish Foundation in hopes for a brighter future for those who are suffering.

Walk for Wishes celebrates thousands of wishes that have already been granted while raising funds for future wishes. The event is powered by wish families, volunteers, donors and friends, and participants help to bring the life-changing impact of a wish to children battling life-threatening medical conditions in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding communities in Southern Florida.

In all, everyone came together to raise enough funds to grant 16 heartfelt wishes for kids like 14-year-old Corin who battled leukemia. Her wish was to go on a Mediterranean cruise with her family.

Dr. Thuy Nguyen Joins the Joseph Spine Institute

Dr. Thuy Nguyen

Fellowship-Trained Neurosurgeon

In 2019, we were lucky enough to bring on another talented member to our team, Dr. Thuy Nguyen. Born and raised in the Midwest, Dr. Nguyen graduated from the University of Missouri in Kansas City with two bachelor degrees, one in chemistry and another in psychology.

He went on to obtain his master’s degree in biomedical sciences at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences where he found a particular interest in anatomy. 

Dr. Nguyen would ultimately obtain his osteopathic medical degree from the same university, after which, he completed an internship at the Hillsdale Hospital providing care at a rural and underserved area. 

Subsequently, he received his residency training in neurosurgery at Beaumont Health in Detroit; a highly coveted spot as there were only 12 slots in the entire nation for this competitive specialty at the time. He was later named Chief Resident. During his neurosurgery residency, 

Dr. Nguyen developed a special interest in the spine and pursued a fellowship in orthopaedic spine surgery at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) where he was immersed in the orthopaedic perspective of spinal surgery and learned from renowned surgeons.

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Joseph Spine Launches Workers Comp Program

In December of 2019, we still had more work to do. We went to work to make sure our patients could get back to work in a timely fashion. We launched our workers comp program to great success.

Our programs are focused on reducing medical costs and time lost from work, while providing the highest level of care to the patient through our state-of-the-art procedures. We communicate and work closely with employers and case managers to assist patients through the process

Dr. Samuel A Joseph Is Named a Top Doctor in Tampa Magazine

There was no sign of the practice slowing down in 2020. Despite the catastrophic effects of COVID on the globe in 2020, our practice persevered to continue serving our patients in the best way possible.

Dr. Samuel A. Joseph Jr., a leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, and founder of Joseph Spine Institute, was voted by his peers to Tampa Magazines’ 2020 Top Doctors list in the specialty of Orthopedic Spine Surgery for the third straight year in a row.

Dr. Samuel A Joseph Is the First in the Nation to Perform Outpatient PTP (Prone Transpsoas)

2020 was a year that took so many of us aback. We continued to serve our patients and find new ways to forge paths to wellness. In 2021, we took that a step further by doing something no surgeon in the nation had done before.

Dr. Joseph worked in conjunction with other leaders in spine research, development, and technology to bring minimally invasive procedures to complex spine conditions, which in turn results in better faster recovery for patients.

The newly developed procedure performed by Dr. Joseph, PTP (Prone Transpsoas) has many benefits that range from superior surgical efficiency to powerful correction abilities in both the sagittal and coronal planes.  PTP allows for the patient to remain in one position for the entire procedure. The prone position creates efficiencies by allowing for a single-position surgery providing simultaneous access to the anterior column and posterior column of the spine. 

Dr. Samuel Joseph Brings New Innovative First Awake, Outpatient Spinal Fusion Surgery To Tampa Bay

At Jospeh Spine Institute, we do not merely rest on our laurels. We strive to continually achieve greatness. In 2021, we continued this tradition by bringing another innovative surgery to Tampa Bay.

This new innovative minimally-invasive spine surgery is called an Awake MIS TLIF (transforaminal lumbar Interbody fusion). Dr. Samuel Joseph uses a combination of minimally invasive surgical techniques and advances in anesthetic procedures to offer and bring awake, outpatients spinal surgery to patients in the Tampa Bay Area. 

During this procedure the patient is awake, treated with localized pain blocks, avoiding the need for general anesthesia and after-surgery narcotics.

Joseph Spine Institute Welcomes Dr. Anthony Kouri to the Practice

Dr. Anthony Kouri

Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Surgeon

We experienced even more good fortune in 2021 thanks to our talented team. We were humbled that Dr. Anthony Kouri wished to join our flourishing practice.

“My goal is to always treat each patient’s individual needs and goals. Whether you are a high-performance athlete or simply want to hold your grandchild, I will tailor individualized care to reduce your pain and improve your func­tion so that you may focus on liv­ing your life.” – Dr. Anthony Kouri

During his fellowship program Dr. Kouri was exposed to variety of traditional as well as cutting-edge surgical techniques, which trained him for technical proficiency in spinal decompression, spinal instrumentation (both free-hand and using navigation or robotics), and advanced spinal reconstruction techniques (PSO, VCR and multi-level corpectomies). He was also trained in novel techniques such as minimally-invasive spine surgery (MIS TLIF and robotic surgery), lateral access surgery (lateral interbody fusion and ACR) and laminoplasty.

Joseph Spine Institute Celebrates 5 Years of Serving Patients

2022 is full of unknown, but we continue to find new and better ways of serving our patients. We are so thankful to everyone who has contributed to this practice and to all the patients who have courageously sought out treatment. In the next five years, we hope to innovate, empower, and heal more people than ever. Whether it’s through our cutting-edge technology or through our humanitarian efforts, we hope to continue to touch those around us with the power of spine medicine.

About Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr.

Dr. Samuel Joseph

Founder, Joseph Spine Institute

Dr. Joseph is the founder of Joseph Spine Institute. He is dedicated to pioneering minimally invasive, outpatient surgical procedures. Dr. Joseph is at the forefront of endoscopic spine surgery and a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dr. Joseph’s 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 has used his training and experience to become a leader nationwide on revision surgery for patients who have experienced failed surgery in the past. These patients have traveled to see Dr. Joseph not only from the Tampa Bay area, but from other areas of Florida and across the country as well.

About Joseph Spine Institute

 Joseph Spine Institute (JSI) was founded in 2016 by Dr. Samuel Joseph. He has assembled a comprehensive team of highly skilled spine specialists that are devoted to offering the highest level of spine care available today. He has also strategically partnered with some of the most innovative leaders in the spine care industry today in order to bring our patients the latest in technology, products and resources. 

From state-of-the-art technology, to alternate therapies and interventional pain management treatments our industry leading spine care practice offers our patients a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of spinal conditions. Our highly-trained surgeons offer an integrated approach to patients that includes surgical and non-surgical options such as pain management and physical therapy. 

 

 

Joseph Spine Institute Welcomes New Spine Surgeon

30 Aug 2021 Spine News

Joseph Spine Institute is proud to announce our new spine Surgeon Dr. Anthony Kouri. Dr. Kouri will be practicing in our St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor Florida locations.

Medical Education

Born and raised in the Midwest, Dr. Kouri grew up in Peoria Illinois, son to an internal medicine doctor and a nurse. When he graduated from high school he started his college experience by moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he attended Creighton University. He graduated magna cum laude with highest honors in chemistry.
Upon graduation Dr. Kouri headed off to Chicago to attend medical school at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine where he received his medical degree. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at University of Toledo Physicians, LLC, where he was Chief Resident of Orthopedic Surgery. As an orthopedic surgery resident he worked in the inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as performing over 2200 surgical cases.

Dr. Kouri went on to receive advanced training in adult and pediatric spine surgery during his fellowship in the John Hopkins Spine Surgery Fellowship program. This prestigious program provided him comprehensive training in evaluation and management of: degenerative cervical and lumbar pathologies, and complex spinal pathologies, including: adult spinal deformity, tumor and infection.

Spine Fellowship

During his fellowship program Dr. Kouri was exposed to variety of traditional as well as cutting-edge surgical techniques, which trained him for technical proficiency in spinal decompression, spinal instrumentation (both free-hand and using navigation or robotics), and advanced spinal reconstruction techniques (PSO, VCR and multi-level corpectomies). He was also trained in novel techniques such as minimally-invasive spine surgery (MIS TLIF and robotic surgery), lateral access surgery (lateral interbody fusion and ACR) and laminoplasty.

Medical Publications

Dr. Kouri is published in major journals including Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) and Spine Deformity, and delivered podium presentations at the annual meeting for the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS).

Interests

Dr. Kouri enjoys all sorts of sports including golf and hockey, which he played for 15 years. He still loves to skate and play hockey with friends. He’s quite a hockey fan and has now begun following the Tampa Bay Lightning! He also loves to cook and spend time with his family.

Dr. Kouri will concentrate his time in our St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor locations.

minimally-invasive-spine-surgery

Dr. Samuel Joseph Brings New Innovative First Awake, Outpatient Spinal Fusion Surgery To Tampa Bay

22 Jul 2021 Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Endoscopy, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine News

This new innovative minimally-invasive spine surgery is called an Awake MIS TLIF (transforaminal lumber Interbody fusion). Dr. Samuel Joseph uses a combination of minimally invasive surgical techniques and advances in anesthetic procedures to offer and bring awake, outpatients spinal surgery to patients in the Tampa Bay Area. 

During this procedure the patient is awake, treated with localized pain blocks, avoiding the need for general anesthesia and after-surgery narcotics.

Awake MIS TLIF is a safe and effective technique, with the following advantages:

  1. No hospital stay – Reducing cost associated with longer hospital stay and reduced chance of other infection.
  2. Procedure time cut in half – Awake procedures take one to three hours vs. the four to six hours required for standard spine surgery under general anesthesia.
  3. Faster recovery time – Patients may walk on the day of surgery and usually go home within 24 hours vs. a three or four day hospital stay with standard spine surgery.
  4. Cost savings to patients – The patient will have the benefit of an overall lower cost for the surgery as well as faster recovery rates to get back to life more quickly.
  5. Reduce risk of side effects of general anesthesia – Since no general anesthesia is necessary, patients do not need to be on a ventilator, resulting n a lower risk of side effects and faster recovery time.
  6. Easier access to intervertebral disc space for disc prep and cage placement
  7. Less damage to soft tissue

TLIF surgery is often indicated for conditions such as a pinched nerve, sciatica, herniated discs, or bone growth. Until fairly recently, open surgery was the standard—and for a long time, only—option. Endoscopic spinal surgery, minimally invasive and increasingly common, allows the procedure to be performed with smaller incisions and lower risk of complications. Awake endoscopic surgery takes minimally invasive surgery one step further, using only minimal sedation and local anesthetic to keep the patient fully awake. 

This type of surgery is relatively uncommon and only a few spine surgeons offer this technique. Now this new technique will be available to Joseph Spine Institute patients at all of our four bay area locations.

About Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr.

Dr. Joseph is the founder of Joseph Spine Institute. He is dedicated to pioneering minimally invasive, outpatient surgical procedures. Dr. Joseph is at the forefront of endoscopic spine surgery and a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dr. Joseph’s 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 has used his training and experience to become a leader nationwide on revision surgery for patients who have experienced failed surgery in the past. These patients have traveled to see Dr. Joseph not only from the Tampa Bay area, but from other areas of Florida and across the country as well.

About Joseph Spine Institute

 Joseph Spine Institute (JSI) was founded in 2016 by Dr. Samuel Joseph. He has assembled a comprehensive team of highly skilled spine specialists that are devoted to offering the highest level of spine care available today. He has also strategically partnered with some of the most innovative leaders in the spine care industry today in order to bring our patients the latest in technology, products and resources. 

From state-of-the-art technology, to alternate therapies and interventional pain management treatments our industry leading spine care practice offers our patients a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of spinal conditions. Our highly-trained surgeons offer an integrated approach to patients that includes surgical and non-surgical options such as pain management and physical therapy. 

pediatric-scoliosis

Why Scoliosis Awareness Month Matters

15 Jun 2021 Scoliosis, Spine News

Share Your Story for Scoliosis Awareness Month

Why is scoliosis awareness so important? A recent study found that 72% of children and adolescents who wore back braces were able to avoid surgical intervention as opposed to 48% of children who did not wear back braces. 

Studies show that early treatment of scoliosis is key

The same study further showed that children who wore back braces for over thirteen hours each day had a success rate over 90%. This provides strong evidence that back braces are an effective non-surgical treatment. However, for back braces to work as a treatment option, the brace must be worn for a significant amount of time. In order for this to be possible, parents have to be educated about the symptoms and screening options available.

Why Scoliosis Awareness Month matters

June is the official month of Scoliosis Awareness. It’s time to speak up about your experiences so we can encourage others to screen for scoliosis. Early detection of abnormal curvature of the spine is key to preventing serious complications. By encouraging others to screen and highlighting educational resources, we can prevent and correct the advancement of scoliosis in our communities.

“National Scoliosis Awareness Month takes place yearly in June with the goal of highlighting the growing need for education, early detection and awareness to the public about scoliosis and its prevalence within the community. The campaign also unites scoliosis patients, families, physicians, clinicians, institutions and related businesses in collaborative partnerships of local activities, events and grassroots networking throughout the month.”

  • Scoliosis Research Society 

Often, schools offer scoliosis screening. Often, though, these programs do not relay the importance of screening and offer few to no resources that outline how to deal with the news that your child may have scoliosis. Worse still, some school scoliosis screening programs are completely absent.

More people are affected by scoliosis than you might think

Scoliosis affects over 4 percent of the population. While that might not sound like an awfully large number, the rate of degenerative scoliosis, the kind where the spine begins to curve due to age, is present in over half of the senior population. All in all, at least seven million people are affected by scoliosis. It’s one of the most common spine conditions, yet it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. 

What causes scoliosis? There are many ways that scoliosis can manifest. It can be congenital, — as in you are born with an abnormal curvature — it can be caused from neuromuscular diseases like cerebral palsy, or it can be caused by spine degeneration or a traumatic injury. There are myriad causes of scoliosis. For this reason, scoliosis is often poorly understood.

What you can do to help

During the month of June, everyone who is or has been affected by scoliosis, from parents of a child with scoliosis to professional spine specialists, speak up about their experiences. By fostering a community and encouraging the sharing of studies, stories, and resources, we can all do our part to minimize the negative effects of scoliosis, not only in our local communities, but all over the globe.

Why we care about Scoliosis Awareness Month

At Joseph Spine, we pride ourselves in our excellent service to patients, providing best-in-class spine surgery and back pain management. We find that preventing the need for surgery is equally important. Eliminating pain and suffering with cutting-edge technology and surgical techniques defines us as a great practice.

Sometimes, cutting-edge technology isn’t necessary, however. Prevention can help your child avoid spine surgery and other invasive producers. Scoliosis, when detected and treated early, can be corrected without surgical intervention. While spinal fusion surgery is certainly an option for those with severe spinal issues resulting from scoliosis, we should all do our part to help reduce the necessity of procedures in cases where early intervention could prevent complications entirely.

Share your story

We encourage you to share your story about scoliosis. As one of the most common spine conditions, we all know someone affected by this condition. We encourage you to share your personal experiences on our social media. Your story is important and will help shape the future of spine health. With your help, we can reduce the pain and suffering associated with scoliosis.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy

11 Jun 2021 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine News

What is an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?

In this video Dr. Thuy Nguyen, will review general information about the Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion procedure, known by the acronym (ACDF). The neck includes seven small bones called vertebrae. They are separated by discs, which act as space holders. Years of wear and tear can cause the breakdown of the discs, reducing the space between vertebrae. This condition is known as cervical disc disease. Like a herniated disc, it can cause pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Read More

Treating Compression Fracture with Kyphoplasty vs. Bracing

10 May 2021 Kyphoplasty, Spine News

Vertebral Compression Fractures: Bracing vs Outpatient Kyphoplasty

written by: Dr. Thuy M. Nguyen

What is a compression fracture?

A compression fracture is a fracture involving the front third of your vertebral body. This will commonly have an appearance of wedging on X-ray. Compression fractures can be very painful with associated point tenderness.

Bracing Compression Fractures

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive spine procedure for treating compression fractures. As compression fractures are usually stable, I typically like to treat these with bracing and analgesics. We will do a trial of conservative management as surgery should be a last resort. Bracing is employed to decrease motion at the fracture which is responsible for inducing pain. A back brace also serves to reduce repetitive “microfractures”. If the back brace and conservative management is not reducing the amount of pain to satisfaction, then a discussion regarding a kyphoplasty should be undertaken.

What is Kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that I do in the office with a local numbing medication. No general anesthesia is used to ensure quicker recovery and a same day procedure as well as avoids all the risk factors and side effects that accompany general anesthesia. My patients will come into the office for the procedure and leave after the procedure.  The kyphoplasty is done under xray or fluoroscopy in order to guide the needle into the correct location. A cavity is created within the vertebral body and a synthetic medical grade “cement” is introduced. This “cement” is polymethlymethacrylate or PMMA.  The PMMA will mend the fractured pieces together and therefore stop motion at these fracture segments which is responsible for the pain.

About Dr. Thuy M. Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen received his training in neurosurgery in a highly sought after residency program at Beaumont Health in Detroit. He then pursued a fellowship in orthopaedic spine surgery at the Oregon Health and Science University. He brings a unique set of spine-focused clincal acumen to Joseph Spine Institute.

About Joseph Spine Institute

Joseph Spine Institute 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. Dr. Joseph has assembled a comprehensive team of highly skilled spine specialists that are devoted to offering the highest level of spine care available today. He has also strategically partnered with some of the most innovative leaders in the spine care industry today in order to bring our patients the latest in technology, products and resources.

From state-of-the-art technology, to alternate therapies and interventional pain management treatments our industry leading spine care practice offers our patients a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of spinal conditions. Our highly-trained surgeons offer an integrated approach to patients that includes surgical and non-surgical options such as pain management and physical therapy.

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