Low back pain is a very common problem that is increasingly being treated surgically. This book aims to evaluate carefully the possible surgical approaches to low back pain, with detailed appraisal of the factors leading to their success or failure. It begins by explaining the scientific basis for surgery and considering the different diagnostic techniques that may be employed, thereby elucidating the surgical rationale, indications, and contraindications. The value of conservative options is also assessed to help the reader weigh the need for surgery. The various surgical modalities, including the most recent, are then fully described and evaluated with the aid of numerous illustrations. The book concludes with a chapter devoted to evidence-based analysis of the outcome of surgery in patients with low back pain. This book will be invaluable to orthopaedic and neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, and all who are concerned with the effective treatment of this often debilitating condition.
Low back pain is a very common problem that is increasingly being treated surgically. This book aims to evaluate carefully the possible surgical approaches to low back pain, with detailed appraisal of the factors leading to their success or failure. It begins by explaining the scientific basis for surgery and considering the different diagnostic techniques that may be employed, thereby elucidating the surgical rationale, indications, and contraindications. The value of conservative options is also assessed to help the reader weigh the need for surgery. The various surgical modalities, including the most recent, are then fully described and evaluated with the aid of numerous illustrations. The book concludes with a chapter devoted to evidence-based analysis of the outcome of surgery in patients with low back pain. This book will be invaluable to orthopaedic and neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, and all who are concerned with the effective treatment of this often debilitating condition.
For the half million people who undergo back surgery each year, and the additional million who are seriously contemplating it, Do You Really Need Back Surgery? is a godsend--an informed, reliable guide to when you should consider surgery and when you should not. Written by an internationally recognized expert in nerve and spinal surgery, this highly readable guide covers everything back patients need to know to make informed decisions about their treatment. Featuring 115 illustrations, the book discusses the details of spinal anatomy; the difference between acute, chronic, and recurring pain; shows how to keep the spine healthy; and explains such terms as spurs, stenosis, and slippage. It reveals what clues your physician uses to predict whether a given type of pain is likely to go away with rest and exercise, or may become an emergency. Dr. Filler discusses the risks of surgery, the decisions you may be faced with and what options you have, and your expectations for recovery. He provides detailed explanations of the wide array of spinal injections and surgeries, including discectomies and fusions, as well as innovative procedures such as electrothermic and laser techniques and artificial disks. He explains the various medical imaging and diagnostic tests available and even covers the complexities of health insurance. The new and extensively revised Second Edition now covers dozens of advanced techniques in spinal diagnostics and treatment as well as advances in new pain medications and new surgeries that minimize recovery time and achieve better outcomes. A new section on the benefits and risks of a wide array of herbal medicines has been added. Finally, the book features two entirely new chapters that describe a series of different nerve entrapment syndromes that can cause headache, neck, shoulder, and arm pain as well as causing buttock and leg pain--but are not caused by spine problems.
Low back pain is a very common problem that is increasingly being treated surgically. This book aims to evaluate carefully the possible surgical approaches to low back pain, with detailed appraisal of the factors leading to their success or failure. It begins by explaining the scientific basis for surgery and considering the different diagnostic techniques that may be employed, thereby elucidating the surgical rationale, indications, and contraindications. The value of conservative options is also assessed to help the reader weigh the need for surgery. The various surgical modalities, including the most recent, are then fully described and evaluated with the aid of numerous illustrations. The book concludes with a chapter devoted to evidence-based analysis of the outcome of surgery in patients with low back pain. This book will be invaluable to orthopaedic and neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, and all who are concerned with the effective treatment of this often debilitating condition.
Dr. Altrocchi, a low back pain MD-expert, directs his book to the 250 million people who have had, now have or will have lumbar back pain. The traditional MD-approach emphasizing “herniated discs,” “pinched nerves” and surgery, has failed for 75 years, causing widespread chronic back pain, disability and human tragedy. In fact, over 90% of back pain is caused by mechanical spine problems, easily diagnosed and treated by logical, anatomical hands-on methods, clearly explained by Dr. Altrocchi, a former Professor of Neurology at Stanford Medical School with 40 years of clinical experience. If patients are seen immediately, they can be cured promptly by simple, logical, non-painful manual treatment without expensive, misleading scans which too often lead to useless and harmful surgery.
Covering all commonly used interventions for acute and chronic low back pain conditions, Evidence-Based Management of Low Back Pain consolidates current scientific studies and research evidence into a single, practical resource. Its multidisciplinary approach covers a wide scope of treatments from manual therapies to medical interventions to surgery, organizing interventions from least to most invasive. Editors Simon Dagenais and Scott Haldeman, along with expert contributors from a variety of clinical and academic institutions throughout the world, focus on the best available scientific evidence, summarizing the results from the strongest to the weakest types of studies. No other book makes it so easy to compare the different interventions and treatment approaches, giving you the tools to make better, more informed clinical decisions. - A multidisciplinary approach covers treatments from manual therapies to medical interventions to surgery, and many others in between. - An interdisciplinary approach enables health care providers to work together. - A logical, easy-to-follow organization covers information by intervention type, from least invasive to most invasive. - Integration of interventions provides information in a clinically useful way, so it's easier to consider more than one type of treatment or intervention for low back pain, and easier to see which methods should be tried first. - 155 illustrations include x-rays, photos, and drawings. - Tables and boxes summarize key information. - Evidence-based content allows you to make clinical decisions based on the ranking the best available scientific studies from strongest to weakest. - Patient history and examination chapters help in assessing the patient's condition and in ruling out serious pathology before making decisions about specific interventions. - Experienced editors and contributors are proven authors, researchers, and teachers, and practitioners, well known in the areas of orthopedics, pain management, chiropractic, physical therapy, and behavioral medicine as well as complementary and alternative medicine; the book's contributors include some of the leading clinical and research experts in the field of low back pain. - Coverage based on The Spine Journal special issue on low back pain ensures that topics are relevant and up to date. - A systematic review of interventions for low back pain includes these categories: patient education, exercise and rehabilitation, medications, manual therapy, physical modalities, complementary and alternative medicine, behavioral modification, injections, minimally invasive procedures, and surgery. - Surgical interventions include decompression, fusion, disc arthroplasty, and dynamic stabilization. - Additional coverage includes patient education and multidisciplinary rehabilitation.
The definitive reference in orthopedic surgery is back... totally revised and updated to encompass over 1,800 procedures, including 90 that are new to this edition! Dr. S. Terry Canale and 33 other leading authorities from the Campbell Clinic present encyclopedic, in-depth coverage of the field, superbly organized for efficient access. This landmark 4-volume set now includes a CD-ROM containing video clips that demonstrate key surgical procedures.
Presenting the 4th edition of this excellent text, with the expertise of 19 leading specialists representing the fields of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, osteopathy, physical therapy, and chiropractic. These authorities bring you comprehensive, multidisciplinary guidance on low back pain diagnosis, prevention, and education. And, they detail the best of today's surgical treatment approaches as well as the most effective manual manipulation methods.
A strong clinical emphasis is present throughout this volume from the first section of commonly presenting problems through to the section addressing problems shared with a range of other clinical sub-specialties.
Are you one of the millions of people who suffer from low back pain? While it is important that patients with low back pain educate themselves about the lower back, the information available is often more confusing than it is helpful. A single source of information should not be taken as the only truth, as this can lead to misconceptions and misunderstandings in the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain. According to author Mario A. Gutierrez, MD, not all patients with low back pain are the same, and not all back conditions have a common cause. Dr. Gutierrez draws on more than twenty years of neurosurgery experience and direct patient contact to guide back pain sufferers in their quest for reliable information and diagnosis with topics such as: Causes of low back pain Current treatments for low back pain Low back surgery options Treatment myths Rehabilitation Health insurance/disability Prevention Whether you're a patient seeking answers, an aspiring medical professional, or a practicing physician, Understanding Low Back Pain is a must-have reference, complete with medical terminology, a short medical glossary, and frequently used medical abbreviations.
