Spine Conference

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.

This blog entry highlights the services of one of the silver sponsors of Back Talk - Indiana Spine Group's fifth annual continuing medical education spine symposium. 

When it comes to medical research and training, experts agree that the use of human tissue is far safer and superior to textbooks, computer simulations or artificial substitutes. Science Care provides human tissue for research and training, they also offer safe, secure medical training facilities, continuing medical education, outcomes measurement and events management...all ultimately benefiting every patent's quality of life.

Because of Science Care's commitment to donors and clients, they operate using audited and controlled procedures performed by specially trained and certified staff, with an emphasis on safety, security, consistency and reliability. The goal at Science Care is to protect the public health and safety, honor the intent of donation and support our client needs.

This blog entry highlights the services of one of the silver sponsors of Back Talk - Indiana Spine Group's fifth annual continuing medical education spine symposium. 

Northwest Radiology Network (NWR) is one of the largest physician owned radiology practices in Indiana and has been providing diagnostic imaging services for more than 40 years.  NWR was formed in 1967, with a goal of providing Indianapolis with the latest, most convenient diagnostic imaging services at an affordable price.  NWR has 49 board certified, sub-specialized radiologists.  Their areas of sub-specialties are body imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, breast imaging, interventional radiology, neurointerventional radiology, neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, positron emission tomography (PET), and nuclear medicine.   The sub-specialization of NWR radiologists differs from other radiology practices that may require their radiologists to interpret radiographs across the board.  NWR's mission is to provide high quality patient care in a cost effective, efficient environment.  The physicians and staff of Northwest Radiology Network are committed to compassionate patient care, accurate results, and timely interpretations.

NWR has three free-standing, multi-modality imaging centers, and interprets images for 16 hospitals and 17 outside imaging facilities throughout the state of Indiana. Free-standing imaging centers include:

• Northwest Radiology at 10603 N. Meridian Street
• Northwest Radiology at 8260 Naab Road
• Meridian North Imaging Center at 12188-A N. Meridian Street 

Staff from Indiana Spine Group attended the 4th Annual annual spine run, sponsored by and benefiting The Spinal Research Foundation. The Spinal Research Foundation is a non-profit organization, who's mission is to improve spinal health care through research and education. Funds raised from the event will go directly to spinal research. 

This foundation was established by spine surgeon Thomas Schuler, M.D., F.A.C.S. in 2002. 
Since its inception, The Spinal Research Foundation has produced significant scientific research resulting in enhanced spinal care.  New technologies, treatments and techniques are the results of the research conducted by The Spinal Research Foundation.

For more information about The Spinal Research Foundation, visit this link.

Registrations are now being accepted for Indiana Spine Group's fifth annual spine symposium Back Talk. "This conference focuses on the latest information about spinal diagnosis and treatment, and is an excellent way for physicians and health care practitioners to get comprehensive information," states Kevin Macadaeg, MD, a minimally invasive spine specialist with Indiana Spine Group and co-chairman of Back Talk.

Recognizing that back pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek medical care, this continuing medical education conference will highlight the latest, evidence-based clinical information on the diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders. Back Talk features general and concurrent sessions, and new this year are clinical and cadaver workshops.

Back Talk | A Comprehensive Review and Practical Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment | November 11 and 12, 2011

For more information, call (317) 228-7000 or visit the following links:

Registration Form | Accreditation | Agenda

The new Medical Academic Center (MAC), a premier, full-service educational conference center, will be located within the new Indiana Spine Group facility will also open in September. This conference center will provide a facility and environment that allows clients to host high quality educational/continuing medical education programs, meeting the needs of their guests.

The MAC will feature 9,000 square feet of meeting and conference areas, that will include:

• Bio-Skills Laboratory with ten fully equipped cadaver work stations.
• Amphitheater with tiered seating for 65. 
• Multiple meeting rooms. 
• Dining/reception area.
• State-of-the-art audiovisual technology, allowing for on-time communication and video capability.
• Full support services, including tissue acquisition, catering coordination, instrument sterilization, conference coordination and more.

The MAC is ideal for conferences, educational programs, clinical and/or hands-on training workshops, meetings, serving as a video-conferencing host site and more. A client can reserve the entire facility or just a room/area within the MAC. Sandra Haugo, MS, will be the manager of the MAC, and will be supporting clients and their conference requirements.

Reservations are now being accepted for the MAC. For more information, call (317) 275-1947 or send an email to info@medicalacademiccenter.com. For an event request form, click here.

In addition to the talks previously highlighted in prior blogs, I also gave a few talks on the cervical spine at the annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons continuing medical education meeting. One Instructional Course lecture, where I served as faculty, focused on the degenerative cervical spine and was entitled, “The Degenerative Cervical Spine: What You Need to Know”.  This talk focused on the evaluation and treatment options for the degenerative spine and it addressed anterior and posterior spine surgery options, as well as non-operative treatment options.

The other talk was a Podium Presentation of the research results for the five-year study of the Bryan Cervical Artificial Disc. This continuing medical education presentation was entitled, “Cervical Disc Replacement: Five Year Follow-up from the U.S. Prospective Randomized Bryan Trial”.  This link provides an overview of the initial results of this study – which followed spine surgery patients post-operatively for five years. Patients evaluated either underwent spinal fusion or arthroplasty (cervical artificial disc).

Recently I attended and presented at the annual continuing medical education conference of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). This meeting was held in San Diego in February. One of the things that I did for this meeting was to plan one of the educational symposiums. This symposium was on the current concepts of spine trauma. As a part of this continuing medical education session, I brought together leaders throughout the world on cervical spinal trauma to be a part of the panel.

This two hour symposium covered the initial assessment of spinal trauma, imaging, and clearing of cervical trauma, as well as spine surgical techniques and more. In addition to moderating this session, I also presented on occipitocervical injuries, including odontoid fractures. Concluding the program, were presentations of case studies with a discussion and debate that included audience participation.

For a complete listing of this educational conference, visit this link.

Blog Entry: Annual AAOS Meeting

In February, Drs. Rick Sasso, and Paul Kraemer presented at the annual continuing medical education meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in San Diego.

Drs. Kraemer and Sasso co-presented a talked entitled, “Differentiating Cervical Spine and Shoulder Pathology: Common Disorders and Key Points of Evaluation and Treatment.” Additionally, Dr. Sasso co-presented other talks, of which a couple were: "The Degenerative Cervical Spine: What You Need to Know," and "Cervical Disc Replacement: Five Year Follow-up from the U.S. Prospective Randomized Bryan Trial." For a complete, continuing medical education program, visit this link.  

In addition to planning and coordinating the symposium on spinal trauma, previously addressed in a prior blog entry, at the annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting I also served as faculty for Instructional Course lectures. One Instructional Course was entitled “Differentiating Cervical Spine and Shoulder Pathology: Common Disorders and Key Points of Evaluation and Treatment.” This continuing medical education talk focused on the overlap of cervical spine and shoulder pathology, and addressed the diagnostic methods for differentiation.  One of the co-presenters of this session was Paul Kraemer, MD. Dr. Kraemer is also a spine surgeon with Indiana Spine Group.

Keynote Speaker Announced

Back Talk | A Comprehensive Review and Practical Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment

November 11 and 12, 2011 | Carmel, IN

Indiana Spine Group is excited to announce that Josh Bleill is the keynote speaker for their fifth annual spine symposium / continuing medical education program Back Talk.

On October 15, 2006, Marine Corporal Josh Bleill's life was forever changed. While conducting combat patrols in Fallujah, the Humvee he was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). Two fellow marines lost their lives, one lost a leg and Josh lost both of his legs. After extensive surgeries and rehabilitation, Josh is one of  the first persons to use blue-tooth technology in his prosthetic legs, and one of two members of the U.S. military to utilize this new technology.  Josh describes his legs as "the power knees" and "the latest and the greatest." With this technology, initially developed for unilateral prosthetics, blue-tooth transmitter/receivers are attached to his ankles. Josh uses muscle movement with his thighs to initiate walking, and once he starts to walk the legs mimic each other as he takes steps.

While recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center, Josh had the opportunity to meet Colts players and team owner Jim Irsay. The Colts stopped by to visit with war veterans on their way to the White House, after their 2007 Super Bowl victory.  Deeply impressed, Mr. Irsay told Josh to see him about a job when he returned home. Today, Josh is a community spokesperson for the Colts, an author and motivational speaker.

Conference attendees will hear his story, as he talks about his enlistment, experience in active duty, injuries, recovery and life today. Learn more about Josh Bleill at  CNN, or read his recently published book One Step At A Time: A Young Marines Story of Courage, Hope and a New Life in the NFL.

I recently had a chapter that I co-authored published in a text book. This chapter was on sacral fractures and was published in Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma: Evidence-based Management.

This book is a continuing medical education resource for orthopaedic surgeons, spine surgeons and other health care professionals that treat spinal cord injuries and trauma. The goal of this book is to provide multiple treatment options, and objective reviews of state-of the-art procedures. In addition to the book, it also provides a video component that provides narrated videos and overviews of the spine surgical procedures highlighted in the book. This book is written by a multinational, multidisciplinary panel of spine experts and it is an honor to be included in this publication. For more publication information,visit this link.

As I previously blogged, I attended and participated in the recent continuing medical education meeting sponsored by the Cervical Spine Research Society.

Here is some information about this organization. The Cervical Spine Research Society, as its name implies, focuses on the cervical spine. It provides a forum for spine surgeons and other medical personnel to share information that promotes cervical spine research. Their vision statement is “The Cervical Spine Research Society is the recognized authority on diseases of the cervical spine.”

In a prior blog entry, I highlighted a few talks that I presented at the 15^th Instructional Course meeting for the Cervical Spine Research Society. In addition to speaking and moderating lectures at this continuing medical education event, I had three clinical papers presented.

These papers were:

1.                  Anterior vs. Posterior Surgical Approaches to Treat Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Outcomes of the Prospective Multi-center AO Spine North American CSM Study in 280 Patients. (Presented by Michael Fehlings, MD)

2.                  The AO Spine North America Geriatric Odontoid Fracture Study: A retrospective review of mortality outcomes in surgical vs. conservative treatment in 158 patients with long term follow-up. (Presented by Jens Chapman, MD)

3.                  Adjacent level cervical ossification after Bryan cervical disc arthroplasty vs. ACDF. (Presented by Ben Garrido, MD)

This past December, I served as a faculty member at the 15^th Instructional Course meeting for the Cervical Spine Research Society held in Charlotte, North Carolina. For this continuing medical education meeting, I was a member of the course program committee as well as a moderator and speaker.

The overall continuing medical education objectives for this meeting included:

·                     Review appropriate anatomy and biomechanics of the cervical spine,

·                     Compare the methods for diagnosis of neck disorders,

·                     Evaluate operative and non-operative treatment options for cervical   spine disorders, and

·                     Recognize and respond to complications of surgical treatment, and exchange information on cervical spine research, diagnosis and treatment with both US and international spine surgeons.

At this meeting, in a section on techniques in spine surgery, I lectured on C1 lateral mass/C2 laminar screw fixation for posterior atlantoaxial fusion. In that this was a spine surgical technique section, I described how the procedure was done and then presented a video demonstration.

There was another educational section on cervical myelopathy for which I was a co-moderator. During this section I also presented a talk on myelopathy. A basic definition of myelopathy is a functional or pathological change in the spinal cord.

Back Talk: A Comprehensive Review and Practical Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment

Date: November 11 & 12, 2011

Location: Carmel, Indiana

This continuing medical education / continuing education symposium will provide the latest diagnostic and treatment information about spinal disorders and abnormalities.

For more information, call (317) 228-7000 or visit this link.

Mark Your Calendars!

Indiana Spine Group is excited to announce the fifth annual spine symposium, 

Back Talk: A Comprehensive Review and Practical Approach to Spinal Diagnosis and Treatment.

 Mark your calendars, and plan to join us!

Date:  November 11 & 12, 2011

Location: Renaissance Hotel | Carmel, Indiana

Back pain continues to be a major health care issue. Not only is it one of the main reasons for physician visits, but it is also one of the most common reasons for missed work. According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain affects eight out of ten people at some point during their lifetime. This symposium will provide the latest information for the diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders and abnormalities.

At the conclusion of this conference, attendees will be able to:

• Perform a comprehensive diagnostic examination and evaluation of patients that present with back and neck pain, including the identification and etiology of normal and abnormal spinal anatomy and conditions, and the effects of the degenerative cascade of the spine.
• Identify the diagnostic indicators and treatment options of patients with common and uncommon spinal disorders and abnormalities with a thorough understanding of non-operative, minimally invasive and operative treatment options, and the clinical indications of selected treatments.
• Discuss overall spinal health and wellness with an understanding of the role and importance of lifestyle and other wellness factors, e.g. diet and exercise, and the recommended prevention and screening guidelines. 
• Review case studies of common spinal disorders and abnormalities, and discuss indications of imaging studies and diagnostic  procedures, appropriate treatment protocols, clinical indicators and expected outcomes.
• Highlight the latest research, emerging treatment options and technology in spinal care with its applicability to the patient care model.  

This one and one-half-day continuing medical education symposium will feature general and concurrent educational sessions, and new this year are clinical workshops that will be hosted at the Medical Academic Center (located just north of the Renaissance). 
 

For more information and conference updates call (317) 228-7000. To sign-up for the mailing list send your contact information to info@indianaspinegroup.com.

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This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Additional CME/CE categories will be applied for.

At the annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons continuing education meeting this past spring, one research study presented evaluated the effectiveness of kyphoplasty.

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive spine treatment used to treat vertebral compression fractures as a result of osteoporosis. In this procedure, a balloon tamp is inserted in the affected spinal area. Once inserted, it is inflated to return the spine to the normal height and shape. The balloon is then removed, and bone cement is placed in the cavity/space created by the balloon.

This study included patients who had no more than three non-traumatic vertebral compression fractures. There were 149 patients in the kyphoplasty group, and 151 patients who received non-surgical treatment. Patients were evaluated over a two-year period.

This study concluded that those patients who underwent kyphoplasty faired better than those who had nonsurgical treatments. The kyphoplasty group had improved quality of life, reduced back pain and disability. The study also concluded that both groups had similar adverse affects. To ready a summary of this study, visit this link.