Continuing Medical Education

In a prior blog entry, I highlighted a meeting the IMAST continuing education meeting that I participated in late this summer. (link to prior blog entry). At this meeting, a few talks/topics that I presented or facilitated discussion on included:

·         A paper that I co-authored on Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Study: Perioperative Complication Rates Associated with Surgical Treatment Based on a Prospective Multicenter Study of 302 Patients

·         At a debate on Multilevel Cervical Stenosis in the Straight Spine: Optimal Treatment, I presented the viewpoint of Anterior Decompression, Instrumentation and Fusion as the optimum spine surgical treatment.

·         I also moderated an instructional lecture on Options in Cervical Motion.

This November, a few chapters that I co-authored on spinal navigation were included in the Handbook of Spine Surgery published by Thieme Publishers. This book is a continuing medical education resource for spine surgeons. One chapter was on Spinal Navigation, which was included in the “Clinical Spine Surgery” section of the book. The other chapter in the “Surgical Techniques” section was on Facet Screw Fixation/Fusion.

This spine surgery educational book provides principles and techniques of spine surgery. Included in the book are sections on clinical spine anatomy, clinical spine surgery, spinal pathology and surgical techniques.

For more information or to order this spine surgical educational resource, visit this link.

Late this summer, I was a faculty member at a physician education meeting sponsored by the Scoliosis Research Society. This meeting was the 18^th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST), held in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

This IMAST meeting includes spine surgeons who are leaders in the field of research and advance spine technologies, for all areas of the all areas of spine (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar), most spinal conditions (degenerative, trauma, deformity, tumor), and a variety of treatment techniques. It is an honor to be asked to participate.

         The continuing medical education objectives of this meeting were to:

·         Assess the most recent advances in surgical techniques for the treatment of spinal disorders and when to use them, in the interest of providing optimal patient care.

·         Analyze the indications and potential complications for various spine fixation systems including spinal arthroplasty.

·         Recognize emerging technology that has the potential to improve patient outcomes for specific indications and populations.

I recently co-authored a chapter on Cervical Arthroplasty. This chapter was included in the book Advanced Reconstruction: Spine edited by Jeffrey Wang and published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society.

This continuing medical education book highlights the way that spine surgeons handle complicated spine surgical cases. Chapters provide detailed step-by-step guidelines on spine surgical procedures. In addition to surgical guidelines for each procedure – this medical education resource also provides indications, contraindications, alternate treatment, results, surgical techniques and post operative information for the procedures.

In addition to the chapter on cervical arthroplasty, there are over 60 spine surgical procedures addressed. A few other spine surgical procedures in the book include Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion, Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. To review the complete table of contents, visit this link.

For more information or to purchase this book, visit this link.

Indiana Spine Group announces their new expanded physical therapy services. In addition to providing spinal therapy, our physical therapy specialists also provide diagnosis-based educational programs to teach patients the proper way to exercise with their given diagnosis. Additionally, wellness programs and classes will soon be available.

 
Physical therapy services are provided at our Indianapolis and Carmel locations. At our new Carmel location, we feature a state-of-the-art physical therapy gym, with equipment selected specifically for treating spinal conditions. 

Patients are seen with a referral from their physician, or self-referrals with a physicians order. For more information, or to schedule an appointment call (317) 228-7000.

On a prior blog entry, I highlighted a few talks i facilitated at the annual continuing medical education meeting of the Lumbar Spine Research Society (LSRS). This society is dedicated to the sharing of scientific information related to the surgical management of disorders affecting the lumbar spine.

The mission of the Lumbar Spine Research Society is "Through the promotion and discussion of research, to advance our knowledge and understanding of the lumbar spine; its physiology, pathology, and treatment; in order to improve patient care."

For more information about this educational society, visit their web site at this link.

In May, I had the honor of being an invited faculty member at the 4^th Annual Dubai Spine Masters continuing medical education program. This “Spine Trauma Masters Update” was held in Dubai, and included  spine surgeons from 70 different countries who are leaders in spinal trauma.

At this meeting, I lectured on the Rationale and Overview of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery in Spinal Trauma, and Balloon Assisted Endplate Reconstruction (BAER) for TL Burst Fractures. I also moderated a case discussion on thoracolumbar spine trauma.

In this blog, I included a picture of the Health Minister of the United Arab Emirates. At this meeting, he gave the opening address and welcomed the attendees.

Congratulations to Rick Sasso, M.D., Indiana Spine Group spine surgeon, for his recent publication of a chapter in Rothman Simeone The Spine – 6^th edition. Dr. Sasso co-authored a book chapter on “Cervical Disc Replacement”.

The Spine provides spine surgeons a continuing medical education resource to help them achieve optimal outcomes in the clinical practice of spine surgery for adults and pediatric patients. This resource includes chapters contributed by international experts on spine surgery, and highlights state-of the-art treatments and surgical techniques.

For more information about this resource, visit .

In a few previous blogs, I wrote about recent presentations at one of the continuing medical education meetings of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). This blog will provide a little information about this organization.

The mission statement of the AANS is that the organization speaks for all neurosurgery and it is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to promote the highest quality of patient care.

While at the American Association of Neurological Surgeon’s continuing medical education meeting in Phoenix, in addition to being a faculty member for a course on cervical myelopathy (previously blogged about), I was also a co-author for other research presentations.

These podium presentations included:

• Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Perioperative Complications in the Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Based on 302 Patients from the AOSpine North America Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Study

• Cervical Disc Replacement: Interim Five-year Follow-up Results from the United States Prospective Randomized Bryan Clinical Trial

• Functional and Quality of Life Outcomes in Geriatric Patients with Type II Odontoid Fracture: One-Year Results from the AOSpine North America Multi-Center GOF Prospective Study

 For more information about this meeting, visit this link.

This past spring I had the honor of presenting at the annual continuing medical education meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons / CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves. The focus of this medical education meeting, held in Phoenix, was Evidence-Based Spine Surgery in the Real World.

At this medical education program I was a faculty member for a section on cervical myelopathy, and presented on Myelopathy at the CVJ. This course reviewed and discussed the evaluation and treatment algorithms of cervical myelopathy and discussed surgical approaches. Additionally, etiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of cervical myelopathy were reviewed. A few of the continuing medical education objectives of this session are outlined below.


Participants will be able to:

•  Synthesize appropriate anatomy and biomechanics of the cervical spine.
•  Differentiate the methods for diagnosis of neck disorders.
•  Apply operative and non-operative treatment options for cervical spine       disorders. 
• Recognize and respond to complications of surgical treatment, and more.

I co-authored a book chapter on “Cervical Disc Replacement”, that has been recently published in Rothman Simeone The Spine – 6^th Edition.

The Spine is a continuing medical educational resource for spine surgeons and highlights state-of-the-art spine treatments and spine surgery techniques. In addition to the text, there is also a video resource for physicians highlighting different surgical techniques and procedures.

Some sections of this book include: Basic Science, Spinal Diagnosis, Surgical Anatomy and Approaches, Thoracic and Lumbar Disc Disease, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Spinal Stenosis, Spinal Fusion and Instrumentation and more. For more information about The Spine and a table of contents, visit this link.

• On September 12, 2011, Indiana Spine Group will move to their new Carmel facility at 13225 N. Meridian. At this time, they will close their Harcourt Road office. Other office locations include Indianapolis, Kokomo and Anderson.
• Register today for Indiana Spine Group's fifth annual spine symposium, Back Talk: A Comprehensive Review and Practical Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment. This continuing medical education conference will be held on November 11 and 12, 2011.
• Please join us on November 19, 2011 as we celebrate the grand opening of our new Carmel facility. Click here for information.

Back Talk | A Comprehensive Review and Practical

Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment

One challenge to physicians is ongoing back pain following spine surgery. This session will provide attendees a better understanding of failed back syndrome / post-laminectomy syndrome.

During this continuing medical education session during the Back Talk spine symposium, speakers will discuss the contributing factors and causes of failed back syndrome. Additionally, the medical and interventional treatments for failed back syndrome will be reviewed – their indications and expected outcomes. One treatment that will be discussed is spinal cord stimulators. Indications for salvageable spine surgery and the outcome predictors will be reviewed.

Faculty for this continuing medical education session includes minimally invasive spine specialist Jonathan Gentile, MD, and spine surgeon Thomas Reilly, MD, FACS.

Back Talk | A Comprehensive Review and Practical

Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment

Another concurrent continuing medical education session will be an interactive workshop and will provide an in-depth look at the patient exam. A live model will be utilized to discuss common patient complaints that are seen and evaluated in the primary care setting.

This session will address both the cervical and lumbar patient exam. During this session, the speakers will review clinical algorithms in the diagnostic triage of patients suffering from neck and back pain. Additionally there will be a review of the necessary documentation specific to patient complaints, diagnostics and treatment.

The speakers for this session are Alta Skelton, RN, MSN, NP-C (a nurse practitioner with Indiana Spine Group), and Jodi Hettermann Blume, PA-C (a physician assistant with Indiana Spine Group).

Back Talk | A Comprehensive Review and Practical

Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment

On Friday (November 11), Back Talk (Indiana Spine Group's fifth annual continuing medical education spine symposium) will include a few concurrent sessions. One concurrent session will provide a more in-depth look at spinal therapeutics and treatment modalities, and discuss their clinical indications and effectiveness. Spinal treatments that will be discussed will include nonoperative therapies such as physical therapy, TENS and therapeutic exercise. Additionally, minimally invasive treatments such as spinal injections, rhizotomy, IDET and nucleoplasty will be discussed. Presenters for this continuing medical education session include minimally invasive spine specialist John Arbuckle, MD, and and physical therapist Adam Ebbert, PT.

Back Talk | A Comprehensive Review and Practical

Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment

Another series of talks during the spine symposium Back Talk, Indiana Spine Group’s fifth annual continuing medical education symposium will focus on treatment options for spine patients and highlight medical, minimally invasive and spine surgery options. This includes their clinical indicators and expected outcomes.

These sessions include:

• Nonoperative and Noninvasive Therapies, which will be presented by minimally invasive spine specialist Jonathan Gentile, MD.

• Minimally Invasive Therapies, presented by Kevin Macadaeg, MD,  minimally invasive spine specialist.

• Common Surgical Procedures, which will be presented by spine surgeon Thomas Reilly, MD, FACS.

 For a complete spine symposium brochure, visit this link.

Back Talk | A Comprehensive Review and Practical

Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment

One series of sessions at Indiana Spine Group’s continuing medical education / continuing education spine symposium will focus on the diagnosis of spinal disorders.  In one series of talks, speakers will highlight key issues and steps critical to spinal diagnosis. Topics will include:

• Spinal Anatomy – differentiating between normal and abnormal spinal anatomy (Speaker: Jonathan Gentile, MD, minimally invasive spine specialist with Indiana Spine Group)

• Diagnostic Pearls – identification of the critical components of the physical exam, and essential elements of the diagnostic work-up (Speaker: John Arbuckle, MD, minimally invasive spine specialist with Indiana Spine Group)

• Common Spinal Disorders – diagnostic indicators for disorders such as herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylosis and more (Speaker: Kevin Macadaeg, MD, minimally invasive spine specialist with Indiana Spine Group)

• Disorders of the Bones – a review of conditions such as osteomalacia, Paget’s disease, spinal arthritis and osteoporosis (Rashid Khairi, MD, FACP, FACE, an endocrinologist with Diabetes & Endocrinology Associates) 

• Uncommon and Benign Disorders – a discussion of disorders such as infections and vascular disorders. (Kenneth Renkens, MD, FACS, spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group)

•  The Role of EMG – the role and indications of EMG in the diagnosis of cervical and lumbar radiculopathy. (Larry Lett, MD, Center for EMG and Neurology)

Registrations are now being accepted for Indiana Spine Group’s fifth annual spine symposium Back Talk. Brochures were recently sent out. If a brochure is needed, please visit this link or call our office at (317) 228-7000.

Back Talk | A Comprehensive Review and Practical Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment is a continuing medical education / continuing education event focusing on the spine. This spine symposium will highlight the latest, evidence-based clinical information on the diagnosis and treatment of spinal abnormalities and disorders. 

We will begin a series of blog entries highlighting different sessions.