Diagnostics, Therapeutics & Surgery

Another condition of the lumbar spine is spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is the result of degenerative changes in the joints of the spine that cause a shifting of alignment. Generally the L4 (lumbar vertebrae) – will slip forward over the L5 (lumbar vertebrae). 

Learn more about spondylolisthesis, the symptoms and treatments with this educational video by Kenneth Renkens, M.D. Dr. Renkens is a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group. 

Spinal stenosis is a general term that refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal. Often this is a degenerative condition resulting from aging. More commonly found in the lumbar (lower back) spine, it also occurs in the cervical (neck) spine. 

Learn more about spinal stenosis, the diagnosis and treatment with this education video featuring Dr. Kenneth Renkens.   Dr. Renkens is a neurosurgical spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group. Orthopaedic spine surgeons with Indiana Spine Group include Rick Sasso, M.D., Thomas Reilly, M.D., and Paul Kraemer, M.D.

A recent blog entry referenced the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).  The IOF is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Switzerland, whose mission is to increase awareness and understanding of osteoporosis.  Their goals are to:

·                     Increase awareness and understanding of osteoporosis.

·                     Motivate people to take action to prevent, diagnose and treat osteoporosis.

·                     Support national osteoporosis societies in order to maximize their effectiveness.

According to the IOF:

• Osteoporosis affects 75 million people in Europe, USA and Japan.
• In 2000, 9 million individuals suffered an osteoporotic fracture.
• I out of 3 women and 1 out 5 men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture. 
• Of these fractures, approximately 58% will be spinal fractures. 

Learn more about spinal / back pain with this education video. This video features Dr. John Arbuckle as he discusses back pain; including the definition, diagnosis and early treatment.  Dr. Arbuckle is a minimally invasive spine specialist with Indiana Spine Group. 

Generally when a patient’s spinal pain is longer than four to six weeks, and the pain is not relieved with the passage of time, anti-inflammatory medications or even physical therapy – a minimally invasive spine specialist will see the individual to evaluate the cause of this pain. 

Minimally invasive spine specialists with Indiana Spine Group include John Arbuckle, M.D., Jonathan Gentile, M.D., and Kevin Macadaeg, M.D. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a new diagnostic tool in the fight against fractures resulting from osteoporosis.  This new risk assessment tool – call FRAX (fracture risk assessment tool), was created to provide a way to assess the risk for osteoporotic fractures more accurately.   FRAX provides the 10-year probability that an individual may have a major osteoporotic fracture; including hip, clinical spine, forearm, hip or shoulder.  FRAX takes into consideration the results of the FRAX questionnaire and bone mineral density (BMD) at the femoral neck (part of the thigh bone that connects to the hip joint).

Indiana Spine Group would like to recognize World Osteoporosis Day – today October 20.

• It is estimated that 10 million individuals in the US have osteoporosis.
• Eighty percent of those with osteoporosis are female, and twenty percent are male.
• Approximately one in two women will have an osteoporotic related fracture in their lifetime after the age of 50.
• One out of four men will suffer an osteoporotic related fracture in their lifetime after the age of 50.

Here are a few links to resources about osteoporosis:
National Osteoporosis Foundation
International Osteoporosis Foundation
MedLine Plus
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

The St.Vincent Orthopedic Center and St.Vincent Spine Center recently earned the Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification for joint replacement and spine surgery, respectively. The Joint Commission is the nation’s premier healthcare accreditation entity.  Read the complete story in the Indianapolis Star. 

Dr. Rick Sasso, co-medical director of the St.Vincent Spine Center spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group was quoted in this article.

In July, Jonathan Gentile, MD, spoke during the luncheon at the annual Indiana Academy of Family Practitioners (IAFP) conference. This lunch was sponsored by St.Vincent Health, a strategic partner with IAFP. 

Dr. Gentiles talk entitled Understanding the Failed Back, addressed the following:

•  The assessment of patients following spine surgery who continue to suffer from  ongoing chronic back pain; and identification of failed back.
• The treatment options for failed back; their indications and effectiveness.

Paul Kraemer, MD, celebrates his one year anniversary with Indiana Spine Group. Dr. Kraemer is an orthopaedic surgeon, dedicated exclusively to surgery of the spine, caring for both adult and pediatric patients.  His special medical interests include orthopaedic spinal trauma, adult spinal deformity, and the prevention and treatment of adjacent segment disease.  

To schedule a consult with Dr. Kraemer or for more information, please call (317) 228-7000.

When spine surgery is recommended, it is important to have a complete understanding of the spine surgical procedure. Paul Kraemer, MD, a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group, states that he encourages his patients to ask questions prior to any spine surgery procedure. It is important for patients to have a clear understanding of their procedure and expected outcomes so that they have realistic expectations about their spine surgery, Kraemer adds.

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Physicians and staff at Indiana Spine Group, work closely with patients prior to surgery to help answer all of their questions.

The following are a few recommended questions:

1. What is the exact name of the procedure recommended?
2. What is a clear, layman friendly description of the procedure?
3. Why is the spine surgery recommended at this time?
4. What are the treatment options if this procedure is not done?
5. What are the risks of the procedure; and the incidence of these risks?
6. What is the anticipated outcome of the surgery?
7. What is the anticipated recovery period like, and what can be expected?

Sign-up early for Back Talk, and save! Early bird registration discount available until July 30.

BACK TALK: Comprehensive Concepts in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal Disorders

 This continuing medical education conference, sponsored by Indiana Spine Group is the 3^rd annual spine symposium for primary care physicians and other health care practitioners. This conference will provide the latest information for the diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders, injuries and abnormalities. 

Date:                September 11 and 12, 2009

Location:          University Place Conference Center | Indianapolis

Visit the conference web site for complete conference information – agenda, continuing medical education accreditation, and aregistration form – or call our office at 317.228.7000.

In a recent blog entry, Indiana Spine Group announced the FDA approval of the Bryan™ Cervical Disc. This cervical artificial disc, provides spine surgeons an alternative device for implantation when performing cervical arthroplasty.  In 2007, the Prestige Disc received FDA approval. In a recent press release, Dr. Rick Sasso stated that “The Bryan Cervical Disc more closely mimics natural spine disc movement with shock absorbing characteristics than a previously approved device.”

Indiana Spine Group is excited to announce that we are one of the providers of this latest technology. At this time, physicians with Indiana Spine Group are the only ones using the Bryan Cervical Disc in cervical arthroplasty in Indiana. 
 

Dr. Rick Sasso, a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group, was a principal investigator in the clinical trials for the Bryan Cervical Disc.  Additionally, Dr. Kenneth Renkens was an investigator in this trial. Dr. Renkens is a neurosurgical spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group. 

To learn more about the Bryan Cervical Disc, click here.  
 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 317.228.7000 or
toll-free 866.947.7463.    

Indiana Spine Group has three minimally invasive spine specialists treating patients with back and neck pain.  The goal of minimally invasive spine specialists is to diagnose the cause of a patient’s neck / back pain – and to treat this cause. Many times medical management and/or minimally invasive spine treatments can effectively eliminate a patient’s neck or back pain.

To learn more about our minimally invasive spine specialists, Kevin Macadaeg, MD, Jonathan Gentile, MD, and John Arbuckle, MD, visit their biographies. Additionally, their videos provide insight into their treatment philosophy and expertise. 

For more information about Indiana Spine Group or to schedule an appointment call:  (317) 228-7000 or toll-free (866) 947-7463.

On Monday, Anne Marie Tiernon - news anchor with WTHR, interviewed Dr. Rick Sasso about the recent FDA-approval of the Bryan™ Cervical Disc. This story aired on June 9, and here is the link to this story. 

Dr. Rick Sasso, a principal investigator in the Bryan Cervical Disc clinical trial, implanted the first Bryan Cervical Disc in the United States. This procedure was done at St.Vincent Hospital, and was performed with Kenneth Renkens, MD. Dr. Renkens, also involved with this clinical trial, is a neurosurgical spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group.

Additionally, cervical arthroplasty patient Kevin Wacasey was interviewed in this story. Kevin received the first Bryan Cervical Disc in the United States in 2002. Today, he is doing great! He enjoys spending time with his teenage son, golfing, fishing and other hobbies. 

One treatment for ongoing back pain following spine surgery - sometimes referred to as failed back syndrome, is a spinal cord stimulator. A spinal cord stimulator uses electrical impulses to help relieve chronic back pain. Previous blog entries have highlighted this procedure. 

Dr. Jonathan Gentile, MD, a minimally invasive spine specialist with Indiana Spine Group, implants spinal cord stimulators - when indicated -  in patients suffering from failed back syndrome. To watch him discuss this procedure, click here.