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Category Archives: Surgery

Childhood Scoliosis Symptoms & Warning Signs

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When an individual has unnatural curving and rotating of the spinal column, he or she has a spinal deformity that is referred to as scoliosis. According to the National Scoliosis Foundation, approximately 7 million people in the United States have scoliosis.

Understanding Scoliosis

A normal spinal column has curves located in the lower portion of the back and in the upper portion of the back. On the other hand, when an individual has scoliosis, his or her spine curves in other areas as well. On average, scoliosis detection occurs at some point between the ages of 10 and 15. This spinal deformity affects males and females equally: However, females with scoliosis are eight times more likely to need treatment as the disorder progresses.

Symptoms and Warning Signs

Since scoliosis is seldom painful during the formative years, scoliosis may go unnoticed for quite some time. Consequently, parents need to know what signs may indicate that their child has scoliosis.

Once your child turns 8 years old, you should watch for the signs listed below:

  • An uneven waist
  • A tendency to lean to one side
  • Uneven shoulders
  • Back pain
  • Hips that appear to be higher than would be expected
  • Excessive tiredness/Fatigue
  • Protruding shoulder Blade(s)
  • An abnormal curvature(s) in the spinal column
  • His or her head is not centered properly (it should be centered directly above the pelvis)

Although there is no cure for scoliosis, there are treatments designed to disrupt the progression of the curve. If left untreated, the scoliosis curve may worsen and the spine itself will twist or rotate.

The Importance of Monitoring Spinal Changes

Although the majority of scoliosis cases will not require active treatment, monitoring spinal changes through periodic examinations and x-rays is vital. If changes are evident, one of the orthopedic doctors at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists will determine which treatment will provide your child with the best possible outcome. Early detection of changes to the spine may allow for successful treatment using just a brace.

Successful brace treatment requires:

  • Early detection of spinal changes while the child is still growing
  • Periodic examinations by an orthopedic surgeon
  • A mild to moderate curvature
  • A supportive family
  • A cooperative child
  • A brace that fits the child well and is replaced promptly once the child outgrows it
  • A continuance of normal activities (exercising and dancing, etc.) without the use of the brace: As permitted by your child’s orthopedic surgeon

The orthopedic surgeons at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists have been treating children with scoliosis for years. With early detection, we can usually treat a child who has a mild to moderate curvature with a custom-designed brace. If you are searching for an experienced, board-certified orthopedic doctor, please contact us today at (904) 634-0640. You can also use our online contact form by clicking here. For the convenience of our patients, we have six locations throughout Southeast Florida.

5 Minimally Invasive Surgery FAQ’s to Ask Your Spine Specialist

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Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is an exciting alternative to traditional spine surgery. The orthopedic surgeons at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists frequently perform MISS procedures to address a variety of issues related to the spine.

1. What is the Difference Between Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Traditional Spine Surgery?

Traditionally, spine surgery was performed as an ‘open surgery.’ When an open spine surgery is performed, the orthopedic surgeon creates a long incision (ranging from 5- to 6-inches) that allows him or her to view and access the area of the spine that is being addressed. Whereas an open spine surgery requires the creation of a long incision, a minimally invasive back surgery does not. In the majority of cases, patients who have MISS as opposed to open back surgery experience less pain and enjoy a faster recovery.

2. How Long Have Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Techniques Been Used?

Ever since the ‘90s, minimally invasive back surgery techniques have been used to address issues that cause pain. MISS procedures are used to remove portions of herniated discs and/or pieces of bone that put pressure the spinal nerve(s). Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques have also been used to correct problems related to the vertebrae (small bones of the spine). Today, the orthopedic surgeons at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists are using minimally invasive back surge
ry techniques to address a wide range of issues. If you are experiencing back and/or nerve pain, call (904) 634-0640 or click here to use the online form to schedule your initial consultation.

3. What Are the Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery?

During an open surgery procedure, in order to view the spine, the orthopedic surgeon needs to move the back muscles over to the side. This retraction of the muscles can actually damage the soft tissue and/or injure the muscle. Furthermore, retracting the muscle usually affects areas of the patient’s anatomy that are not required to complete the surgery. Thus, causing the patient to experience additional pain. While performing a MISS, the orthopedic doctor can target the problem area directly. This allows the surgeon to treat the patient’s spinal problem with less injury to his or her normal spinal structures, including the muscles. Additional benefits include spending less time in the hospital and very little concern related to excessive bleeding (due to the shorter incisions).

4. What Should I Expect During the Recovery Phase Following My Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

Every patient is unique; however, the majority of patients can walk around relatively soon following their procedure. Moreover, a MISS is usually an outpatient procedure, which means patients return home on the same day of their surgery. Within two weeks, you should be able to return to performing light physical activities. Depending on the spinal issue that was addressed during your surgery and your overall health, you may fully recover in as little as six weeks.

5. Will I Need to Have Physical Therapy?

Yes, by performing physical therapy exercises that target the part of the spine that was addressed during surgery, you increase the blood flow to that particular area. This blood flow increase assists your body as it heals.

What to Ask your Doctor Before Hip Replacement Surgery

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When agriculture spraying technician Sammy Burch began having intense pain in her right hip, she just thought she had thrown her hip out and could easily get the problem fixed with a visit to the chiropractor. But when her chiropractor saw her, he recognized there were deeper problems and sent her to an orthopedic specialist. For a woman whose work was intensely physical, Burch was all about finding out what this diagnosis meant to her career in agriculture.

Little did she know, she was headed for a full hip replacement and with the dizzying amount of questions she had, she says now, she wished she’d have had a guide on this trip.

If you are finding yourself in the same predicament, you might feel anxious and unsure about many things. For this reason, we have offered up a list of questions that might calm you a little bit when your Jacksonville orthopedic healthcare professional or sports medicine physician visits with you and answers them.

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Things Your Orthopedic Physician Wants You to Know

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Whether you have sustained a sports-related injury or you suffer with chronic back pain, Southeast Orthopedic Specialists can help relieve your pain. If you have been injured, we will also assist you as you move through the recovery process. Our goal is to help you return to your normal activities as quickly as possible. If you have been injured, contact one of our offices today to schedule your initial consultation.

6 Things your orthopedic physician wants you to know

1. How did you become injured?

Some people are embarrassed about how they sustained their injuries. Whether you tripped rushing to answer the phone, you fell off of a curb while taking a selfie or you slid into home base, there is no need to be embarrassed with us. To ensure you receive the highest quality of care possible, we need to know the specifics.

2. Bring a short list of questions with you to your initial consultation.

We are always happy to answer your questions. However, please refrain from creating an extensive list of questions. Instead, just write down a couple extremely important questions. After your initial consultation, please explore our website. If you still have questions, send us an email with those questions and we will do our best to answer them in a timely manner.

3. Many times, your symptoms are more important than your diagnostic imaging results.

While X-rays and MRIs are very helpful, the description of your symptoms provides your orthopedic physician with approximately 90 percent of the information he or she needs to diagnose and treat you.

4. When you visit Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, please wear clothing that allows us to examine your injury.

Your orthopedic physician will want to examine your injury. For this reason, you need to wear clothing that makes your injured area easier to access. If you injured your shoulder, wear a tank top. If it is your knee that is injured, choose a pair of loose pants, a pair of shorts or a skirt.

5. Every injury is unique.

If you know someone who received treatment for the same injury that you sustained, do not assume that your treatment plan or outcome will be identical. We know that every patient is different, which is why we create each of our patients an individualized treatment plan.

6. Stop smoking tobacco.

Smoking constricts blood vessels. These constricted blood vessels interrupt the body’s blood flow. The inability for blood to freely flow throughout the body can lead to delayed wound healing. In fact, the chance of a smoker experiencing an infection and/or a wound healing problem following surgery is more than double that of a non-smoker.

Additionally, when compared to non-smokers, individuals who smoke are more likely to tear their rotator cuffs and herniate discs in their lower backs. Furthermore, individuals who smoke usually have decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis), which increases the likelihood of a fracture. Smokers also tend to suffer more broken bones in their spines, hips and wrists than non-smokers do.

The Future of Spine Technology

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There have been many technology advancements for spine care. An orthopedic spinal surgeon, Anthony Yeung, weighs in on his opinions on where he sees the future of spinal care. Dr. Yeung realized the need for minimalism in spine surgery when a close family member sustained a nerve injury of the spine after partial removal of the facet joint. The initial injury was a central disc herniation. His thoughts were focused on the idea that spinal surgery should be less invasive to avoid further injury, years of pain and disability. In this case, his mother progressed to a grade 2 spondylolisthesis. He was interested in a less invasive procedure to decompress original herniation.

The Future of Spinal Surgery: Minimally Invasive

Dr. Yeung began to study the transforaminal decompression concept of Parviz Kambin. He began to see that the visual capabilities of the endoscope just may be a part of what he needed to implement his future vision of spinal surgery. In his interest to shape spinal surgery, he developed the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System in 1997. This system was designed for performing selective discectomy via an indigo dye stain for degenerative nucleus removal. Dr. Yeung took it further and combined the system with laser. Further development led to developing a multichannel irrigation endoscope that fit into a disc. The dual system lead to controlled removal of disc and the ability to see the tissue that needed to be removed.

He was able to visualize the nucleus pulposus during discectomy. The staining of the degenerative disc allowed him to be more selective in disc removal. Abnormal and normal parts of the disc were easily identified. Soon after developing the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System, he developed a bevelled cannula to facilitate view of the epidural space. Hinged discectomy instruments were also produced to assist visual inspection and discectomy to identify decompression of the existing and traversing nerve in the epidural space. These instruments also provided more flexibility in reaching the patho-anatomy.

Without a doubt, new developments and new technology over the decades has improved the techniques of spine surgery. The spine care specialists at Southeast Orthopedic offer minimally invasive spine surgery performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons. With minimally invasive spine procedures, surgery can be performed as an outpatient or require a shorter hospital stay. If you’re considering spine surgery, turn to the experts at Southeast Orthopedic.

Tips for Getting Back Into Exercise After Recovering From an Injury

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Recovering from an injury takes time and patience. Even after your physical therapist gives you the go-ahead to return to exercise, it can feel daunting. After all, you don’t want to reverse your weeks or months of hard work by risking another injury. Following this guide to getting back into exercise after recovering from an injury will help you stay safe during this critical period.

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The Importance of Getting Back on Your Feet After a Knee Replacement

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Knee replacement surgeries are the 14th most common inpatient procedure performed in the United States, with 4.5 million Americans currently living with at least one knee replacement. As techniques for total knee replacement have grown more refined, orthopedic specialists have discovered factors that predict successful functional outcomes. One of the most important factors in restoring mobility and range of motion is getting back on your feet after a knee replacement surgery. Follow this guide to ensure you safely return to walking after a knee replacement.

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