All Posts Tagged: little rock minimally invasive surgery

Screwless | Lumbar Interbody Fusion (S-LIF)

Posted by

THE WORLD’S LEAST INVASIVE LUMBAR FUSION SURGERY: the S-LIF, Developed by and available exclusively at Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists.

Sciatic nerve pain can be disruptive. Constant pain and numbness due to a compressed nerve with spine instability can hinder your daily life. So can invasive spinal surgery and the recovery time that comes along with it. But not anymore, thanks to S-LIF technology.

The S-LIF is the least invasive option for lumbar fusion surgery available anywhere in the world. When Dr. Schlesinger developed the MIG-LIF procedure in 2015, it was the least invasive fusion option also done through a keyhole outpatient surgery. While this was a great breakthrough at the time in MIS spine surgery, Dr. Schlesinger felt that the next logical step was to achieve the same outcome with even less surgery.

Through application of his microsurgical skills and experience in delicate surgery on aneurysms and tumors of the brain, this next step became a reality. The S-LIF is the least invasive option in the world for many patients with the need for a decompression and fusion of the lumbar spine. It is not for all patients as some still require more invasive surgery. But for those that are candidates for MIS surgery, this is an outstanding option.

The S-LIF procedure is performed by our two talented neurosurgeons Scott Schlesinger, MD, and Dominic Maggio, MD. Scott Schlesinger, MD has practiced neurosurgery since 1992. He trained in Neurosurgery at UT Southwestern with a fellowship in Lausanne, Switzerland. He has received multiple awards and multiple recognitions as the Best Neurosurgeon in the state. Dr. Schlesinger is the founder of Legacy Spine and Neurological Specialists and the developer of the S-LIF procedure.

Dominic Maggio, MD joined the Legacy team in July 2021. He is an excellent surgeon who specializes in the S-LIF procedure as well as a wide variety of other spinal surgery. He trained at the University of Virginia-National Institutes of Health neurosurgery program and received multiple awards for his research and clinical skills. He subsequently did a fellowship at Ohio State University in complex and minimally invasive spine surgery techniques.

To find out if the S-LIF is an option for you or for more information call us today at 501-661-0077 or email contactus@wordpress-967348-3758640.cloudwaysapps.com. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you!

Read More

Intraoperative Navigation

Posted by

What is intraoperative navigation?

Sophisticated imaging equipment that is used during surgery to provide accurate anatomical localization of important structures.

How does it help in spine surgery?

Read More

Is your bulging disk causing your back pain?

Posted by

As our bodies age so do our spines. Arthritic changes will be present in the spine which include bulging disks, degenerative disk disease and joint changes. The degree that these changes occur are often related to genetics. A simple bulging disk is actually an extremely common finding on MRIs of the spine and is not an indication for surgery. There are many other structures in the low back and neck that are very sensitive to pain especially the muscles and numerous joints that support the spine. These are more often the cause of low back and neck pain and are treated with conservative therapies. Occasionally a disk will actually herniate out of the normal position between the vertebral bones and cause pressure on spinal nerve resulting in extremity pain. The disk herniation itself is not painful but can result in pain by causing inflammation and/or pressure on these spinal nerves. If extremity pain from a compressive herniated disk cannot be fixed with conservative treatments sometimes surgery is indicated. Our neurosurgeons are trained to read spine MRIs, understand the complicated anatomy of the spine and perform neurological exams to determine appropriate treatment options. 

Read More

Lumbar Disc Disease

Posted by

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the condition, and may range from no symptoms to severe pain in the back and or legs with variable degrees of numbness, tingling and weakness in the legs.

Causes

The lumbar discs are the cushions between each of the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back. These cushions are composed of an inner layer of material called the nucleus pulposus, which is surrounded by fibrous bands called the annulus. The nucleus material is a gelatinous core that has the consistency of “boiled shrimp”. These cushions serve as the shock absorbers in our lower back, just like the shock in your car. These “shock absorbers” experience daily wear and tear.

Read More

Non-Invasive Treatment for Neck Pain

Posted by

Cervical Steroid Injections

Our primary goal is to relieve patient’s pain, while taking the least invasive route. Often times when someone has neck pain, it is best to start with Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections. Cervical Epidural Steroid injections are often used to relieve pain in the neck, arms and shoulders. Neck pain is often caused by conditions like herniated discs, bulging discs, arthritis and spinal stenosis, which can cause compression and pinched nerves. To relieve pain associated with these, we often times recommend getting a series of three injections

Read More

Congratulations to Dustin Johnson for his Playoff Opener Win

Posted by

The Play by Play

Dustin Johnson is cool under pressure! Despite falling five shots behind Jordan Spieth after five holes Sunday in the Northern Trust, Johnson never panicked.

The seemingly insurmountable deficit was wiped clean in five holes, with Johnson making two birdies and Spieth finding water on the sixth hole for a double-bogey. Spieth, then making another bogey on the ninth. From the 11th on, Johnson out-dueled Spieth and won the opener of the FedExCup Playoffs with two great performances on the final hole.

On the 72nd hole, Johnson, facing a make-or-break situation, buried an 18-footer  for par to force a playoff, and then claimed the hardware on the first extra hole, when he unleashed the longest drive on the 18th all week — a 341-yarder that easily cleared the lake — and then struck a 60-degree wedge to 3 feet and made the putt to win.

Read More

The Simple Facts: Lumbar Stenosis

Posted by

Stenosis is a common spinal condition caused by arthritic build up in the joints (facet joints) and ligaments in the lower back. In addition, one may have a disc bulging that causes pressure on the nerves passing through the narrow canal.

Symptoms:

Back and leg pain down one or both legs, numbness or tingling, weakness often associated with electric shocks running from the back to the feet. These symptoms are increasingly aggravated, at a varying degree while walking, and improve when sitting or stooping forward.

Read More

“The Golfer’s Swing: A Multi-modal Approach to Improving Your Game”

Posted by

A competitive edge is a highly sought attribute for any serious athlete. As young, healthy athletes slowly begin to add years of experience to his/her playing card, there are added stressors and strains that inevitably accumulate. Very often I see an aging adult that has the follow through and motivation of a champion but an uncooperative physique. So the question then becomes, how can the imminent become less inhibiting?

Let’s discuss some of the limiting factors and how we might be able to address these items through a strengthening and flexibility regime that could potentially be the difference between double bogey and par. Primary areas of focus will include hip range of motion, low back musculature, and biomechanics of your golf swing.

Read More