We integrate care from the leading professionals in all aspects of spine care before, during and after surgery.
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Having a spinal problem is a complex disease that requires more than just a skilled surgeon. It requires a compassionate, evidence based, streamlined care from the very beginning. To have the best possible outcomes we integrate care from the leading professionals in all aspects of spine care. This occurs before, during and after surgery. USA Health has a host of experts working within one institution including physical therapists, nutritionists, pain management specialists, medical doctors, adult and pediatrics physicians and specialists.
Each decision and each protocol is personalized to the patient’s specific problem and integrated with the latest evidence-based approaches from the field of medicine. Academic centers, by definition, drive the field of complex surgery. Our team is at the forefront of research in spinal surgery related to outcomes, techniques and socioeconomic data.
Furthermore, complex cases at USA Health undergo a surgeon peer review process where cases are discussed with different surgeons at a formal spine conference. This serves as a teaching modality for surgeons-in-training but also allows for a review of cases among professionals, integration of the latest scientific findings into the treatment plan and review with other experts in the field. This can improve outcomes and reduce complications.
Both orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons perform spinal surgery. Being an academic center, USA Health is fortunate to have both types of surgeons within the same institution. USA Health has orthopaedic surgeons trained in pediatric spinal surgery as well as fellowship-trained neurosurgeons.
This is an umbrella term used to quantify and qualify any abnormal alignment of the bones of the spine. This can be from congenital problems (something you are born with) or from long-term wear and tear (arthritis) in the spine. This causes the body to have an abnormal posture either too far forward, too far to the side, or occasionally too far backwards. This can create a significant decrease in the quality of life. Overtime, the joints become stressed and the nerves can be pinched resulting in pain.
This is a type of spinal deformity that results from a lateral or sideways curvature of the spine. This can be cosmetically disfiguring but more importantly can cause a significant amount of pain when nerve roots get pinched due to the abnormal spinal architecture. In severe cases, with a curve greater than 70 degrees, the ability for the lungs and eventually the heart to work properly can be impacted.
Every spine has a normal amount of kyphosis or forward bend in the thoracic portion of the spine (or chest). Too much kyphosis can result in too much of a forward posture. This can be very painful for the patient as the body and other portions of it have to work “overtime” to keep the body straight. This etiology can be found in pediatric patients but also in the elderly patient who has difficulty standing up.
Every spine has a normal amount of lordosis or backwards saw in the lumbar or lower back part portion of the spine. Too much lordosis can result in a backwards leaning posture.
This is the slipping of one vertebra on top of another in the lower portion or lumbar spine. It can be caused by a variety of different pathologies in both children and adults. It can result in back pain as the joints move against one another; it can also result in leg pain as the nerves that go to the leg get pinched.
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Natalie Bauer, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently among one of five faculty members to receive the 2019 USA College of Medicine Faculty Intramural Grants Research Award. The award, which provides funds through an annual competition, targets five full-time basic science faculty members.
Now a second-year medical student at the University of South Alabama, Aggen managed to find his way to a future he envisioned on his hardest days. A little guidance from someone who had been where he’d been would have made it a lot easier.
Christopher Keel, D.O., a urologist with University Urology and adjunct assistant professor of surgery at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, presented at the October Med School Café.
Celebrate Hope is the signature gala for USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute. Held the Thursday before Thanksgiving each year, the event features dishes by local chefs paired with wine and craft beer, as well as live entertainment. Since its inception, Celebrate Hope has generated $3.1 million for cancer research. This year's Presenting Sponsor is the USA Foundation.
