Spine Centerat Stamford Hospital’s Orthopedic Institute

Back pain related to spinal deformity and injury or

congenital conditions is a common health complaint,

which can be very debilitating. At Stamford Hospital’s

Spine Center, we do more complex spine surgeries than

any other hospital in Fairfield County.

We are experts in total spine care, offering a dedicated team of surgeons,

nurses, anesthesiologists, physical therapists, pain-management specialists

and physiatrists, who are experienced in treating the most challenging

spinal conditions.

Our first approach whenever possible is to provide patients non-surgical

treatment options. Our program offers services such as pain management

and physical therapy; both can be accessed directly at Stamford Hospital’s

Tully Health Center.

Where non-surgical methods fall short, we offer a comprehensive surgical

program. An integral member of our team is the Clinical Nurse Coordinator

who helps prepare patients prior to coming into the hospital for complex spine

surgery and follows-up with them after their discharge.

To ensure patient safety, we have physicians who monitor the spinal cord and

nerves throughout surgery to prevent neurological complications. We also utilize

an image-guided sterotactic navigation system that acts as a “GPS” for the spine,

this allows us to safely and precisely insert implants while protecting delicate

nervous system structures.

Our scoliosis surgeons use the ScoliosisScore, a genetic test, which can

prognosticate the risk for progression of scoliosis in children and adolescents.

This testing allows us the capability of individually tailoring treatment plans.

Interestingly, scoliosis disproportionately affects females more than males.

Our goal is to partner with patients in their journey to living the active life

they desire.

What types of conditions are most commonly treated?

• Neck and arm pain caused by herniated discs

• Back and leg pain caused by herniated discs

• Chronic lower back pain and spinal instability (spondylolisthesis) causing spinal stenosis

• Spinal deformity in children and adults such as scoliosis, kyphosis

and spondylolisthesis

What types of testing might be required to determine the best course of treatment?

• X-ray

• MRI

• CT Scan

• Myelogram

• Occasionally electro-diagnostic studies (EMG)

• Other testing as required (bloodwork, etc.)

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If I am diagnosed with a spine condition, do I necessarily need surgery?No. In fact, many spine problems do not require surgical correction. At Stamford Hospital’s Spine Center, we offer a multitude of non-invasive options to treat patients, with surgery as a last resort. These conservative treatment techniques can benefit a wide range of patients, from injured athletes, workers and older adults, to those who suffer acute back pain as well as those with persistent pain despite previous surgeries.

Some of the non-surgical options offered include:

• Pain Management—Managing pain is an important part of treatment and recovery from a spinal disorder or spinal surgery. There are many options available to help with the management of back pain, your physician will discuss what is best for you. For most people, back pain tends to get better within two weeks to three months. However, the sooner you treat the pain, the less likely it is to worsen or cause other complications.

• Physical Therapy—Physical therapists at Stamford Hospital treat a variety of spine and back conditions. In general, the goals of back exercises and physical therapy are to decrease pain, increase function and strength, and provide education on a maintenance program to prevent recurring issues.

With patient convenience in mind, patients can access certain pain management techniques at Stamford Hospital’s Center for Integrative Medicine & Wellness. These services along with the physical therapy program are provided at the Tully Health Center.

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What types of surgery are offered?At the Spine Center we are committed to finding the most effective treatment for each patient—taking into consideration his or her personal goals, needs and physical condition. When a surgical intervention is the best option for the individual our team has the expertise to manage the most complex surgeries.

Should you require surgery, we are experts in the latest surgical treatments for spine disorders, including the field of minimally invasive surgery which results in smaller incisions, less pain and shorter recovery time.

• Spinal Reconstruction—Is needed when someone who had other non-fusion spinal procedures, which have resulted in no pain relief, demonstrate signs of instability.

• Spinal Instability and Chronic Spinal Conditions that Require Surgical Intervention—Patients with instability complain about back and leg pain, which becomes aggravated with activity.

• Scoliosis Deformity—These patients benefit from spine stabilization and reconstruction, which restores normal spinal balance and alignment.

What are the benefits of minimally invasive surgery?Minimally invasive techniques when indicated have made spine surgery far less difficult and disruptive to your life. Surgery that once required a week in the hospital and a year or more to completely recover, can now be done with a hospital stay of a few days and full recovery within several months. In addition to a shorter hospital stay and recovery time, the benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:

• Less scarring, leaving the patient with a few tiny scars instead of one large scar

• Reduced postoperative pain

• A faster return to normal everyday life, including work and activities

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Can all spine surgeries be done with minimally invasive techniques? No. Minimally invasive surgery is not appropriate for all patients. In some cases, your surgeon may tell you that he or she will be able to achieve a better result using a conventional approach and some patients have conditions that make minimally invasive approaches difficult or impossible.

What types of minimally invasive surgery are available?The main types of minimally invasive spine surgery currently being performed at Stamford Hospital include:

• X-Stop® (shown above), the first non-fusion treatment for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The X-Stop is an implant installed surgically in a minimally invasive procedure that takes about 45 minutes, delivering relief from the intense leg pain that people with spinal stenosis suffer when standing upright and walking.

• Artificial disc replacement, for the Cervical and Lumbar spine including the Charité artificial disc for implantation in qualified patients.

• Spinal instrumentation, a surgical procedure that straightens and stabilizes the spine using metal rods and screws.

X-Stop

Healthy Spine

Stenoic

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• Spinal fusion, which often is performed on degenerative discs. In this procedure, the damaged disc is removed and the two vertebrae are grafted and fused together.

• Discectomy and microdiscectomy, to repair herniated discs.

• Kyphoplasty, this procedure involves injecting a substance into the affected vertebrae, which can be very effective in controlling pain associated with spinal fractures often caused by osteoporosis.

If I need surgery, should I see a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon?

If you have a problem with your spine, whichever type of surgeon you see (neuro or orthopedic), they should be trained in modern spine surgery. This means they have studied and are practiced at using leading-edge technology during surgery. At Stamford Hospital, our neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons often assist one another on surgical cases.

How can I get more information?Please visit our website at stamfordhospital.org or you may call Stamford Hospital’s Orthopedic Institute toll-free at 1.877.747.4640.

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Stamford HospitalOrthopedic Institute 30 Shelburne Road P.O. Box 9317 Stamford, CT 06904-9317 Phone: 203.276.1000

stamfordhospital.org

As a Planetree hospital, we are committed to personalizing, humanizing

and demystifying the healthcare experience for patients and their families.

Our approach is holistic and encourages healing in all dimensions—

mind, body and spirit.