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Scoliosis

State-of-the-art spine and scoliosis management without surgery.
If getting surgery on your spine sounds intimidating, know that you’re not alone in feeling that way. Spinal fusion surgery sounds scary to most people, inviting questions you’d rather not think about: How long does it take? How long will my recovery time be? Are there risk factors or complications with spinal fusion? What does the procedure look like? How can I feel confident that I’m in the right hands? Maybe most of all: Is there any other way?
At Northern Michigan Spine, Michigan’s leading clinic, we believe there is another way. We know that spinal fusion surgery can sound scary, and we don’t believe it’s right for all patients. If you are considering spinal fusion after your doctor’s recommendation, there are five things you need to know about the spinal fusion process, as well as the alternative to spinal fusion we believe could save you from having to undergo surgery at all:

References

​(1) Yavin D1, Casha S1, Wiebe S, Feasby TE, Clark C, Isaacs A, Holroyd-Leduc J, Hurlbert RJ, Quan H, Nataraj A, Sutherland GR, Jette N. Lumbar Fusion for Degenerative Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neurosurgery. 2017 May 1;80(5):701-715. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyw162.

(2) Wang X, Borgman B, Vertuani S, Nilsson J. A systematic literature review of time to return to work and narcotic use after lumbar spinal fusion using minimal invasive and open surgery techniques. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017;17(1):446. Published 2017 Jun 27. doi: 10.1186/s12913-017-2398-6

​(3) Ratliff JK, Lebude B, Albert T, Anene-Maidoh T, Anderson G, Dagostino P, Maltenfort M, Hilibrand A, Sharan A, Vaccaro AR. Complications in spinal surgery: comparative survey of spine surgeons and patients who underwent spinal surgery. J Neurosurg Spine. 2009 Jun;10(6):578-84. doi: 10.3171/2009.2.SPINE0935.

​(4) Zaina F, Tomkins-Lane C, Carragee E, Negrini S. Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2016(1):CD010264. Published 2016 Jan 29. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010264.pub2
​
(5) Adogwa O, Parker SL, Bydon A, Cheng J, McGirt MJ. Comparative effectiveness of minimally invasive versus open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: 2-year assessment of narcotic use, return to work, disability, and quality of life. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2011;24(8):479–484.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21336176

(6) Parker SL, Adogwa O, Bydon A, Cheng J, McGirt MJ. Cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive versus open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis associated low-back and leg pain over two years. World Neurosurg. 2012 Jul;78(1-2):178-84. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.09.013.

(7) Parker SL, Mendenhall SK, Shau DN, Zuckerman SL, Godil SS, Cheng JS, et al. Minimally invasive versus open Transforaminal lumbar Interbody fusion for degenerative Spondylolisthesis: Comparative effectiveness and cost-utility analysis. World Neurosurg. 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23321379

​(8) Herkowitz HN, Kurz LT. Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. A prospective study comparing decompression with decompression and intertransverse process arthrodesis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1991 Jul; 73(6):802-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2071615/

(9) Tsutsumimoto T, Shimogata M, Yoshimura Y, Misawa H. Union versus nonunion after posterolateral lumbar fusion: a comparison of long-term surgical outcomes in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Eur Spine J. 2008;17(8):1107–1112. doi: 10.1007/s00586-008-0695-9

(10) Joseph JR, Smith BW, La Marca F, Park P. Comparison of complication rates of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and lateral lumbar interbody fusion: a systematic review of the literature. Neurosurg Focus. 2015 Oct;39(4):E4. doi: 10.3171/2015.7.FOCUS15278.

​(11) Greiner-Perth R, Boehm H, Allam Y, Elsaghir H, Franke J. Reoperation rate after instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion: a report on 1680 cases. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004 Nov 15;29(22):2516-20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15543064

(12) Saavedra-Pozo FM, Deusdara RA, Benzel EC. Adjacent segment disease perspective and review of the literature. Ochsner J. 2014;14(1):78–83. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3963057/

(13) MacDowall A, Canto Moreira N, Marques C, Skeppholm M, Lindhagen L, Robinson Y, Löfgren H, Michaëlsson K, Olerud C. Artificial disc replacement versus fusion in patients with cervical degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy: a randomized controlled trial with 5-year outcomes. J Neurosurg Spine. 2019 Jan 11;30(3):323-331. doi: 10.3171/2018.9.SPINE18659.

(14) Yang X, Janssen T, Arts MP, Peul WC, Vleggeert-Lankamp CLA. Radiological follow-up after implanting cervical disc prosthesis in anterior discectomy: a systematic review. Spine J. 2018 Sep;18(9):1678-1693. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.04.021.

(15) MacDowall A, Skeppholm M, Lindhagen L, Robinson Y, Löfgren H, Michaëlsson K, Olerud C. Artificial disc replacement versus fusion in patients with cervical degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy: 5-year outcomes from the National Swedish Spine Register. J Neurosurg Spine. 2018 Nov 2;30(2):159-167. doi: 10.3171/2018.7.SPINE18657.

(16) Zhong ZM1 Deviren V, Tay B, Burch S, Berven SH. Adjacent segment disease after instrumented fusion for adult lumbar spondylolisthesis: Incidence and risk factors. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2017 May;156:29-34. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2017.02.020.

(17) Tobert DG, Antoci V, Patel SP, Saadat E, Bono CM. Adjacent Segment Disease in the Cervical and Lumbar Spine. Clin Spine Surg. 2017 Apr;30(3):94-101. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000442.

(18) Centeno C, Markle J, Dodson E, et al. The use of lumbar epidural injections for treatment of radicular pain. J Exp Orthop. 2017;4(1):38. Published 2017 Nov 25. doi: 10.1186/s40634-017-0113-5
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Dr. Wegmann is one of the best Chiropractors I've ever been to. I own a house in L.A., Miami and N. Michigan and spend a lot of my working time in New York City. Dr. Wegmann is passionate and brilliant when it comes to spine knowledge and care. -J.H.
I really admire them for being more than willing to ask for help from other professionals in the field when they don't have an answer to my question. They aren't even slightly arrogant, and I'm confident they are the best choice in town. ~Jim
  • Wisdom Hub
    • FAQ
    • Clinical Excellence
    • Neck Problems
    • Patients >
      • Patient Portal (Members Only) >
        • Advanced Spine Research
        • Cervical Spine Exercises
        • Low Back Exercises
        • Scoliosis Care
        • Advanced Scoliosis Care
        • Accelerated Aging
        • Collagen
        • Asthma and Chiropractic
        • Nutrition for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers
        • Women and Children
        • Pediatrics
        • Carpel Tunnel
        • Aspiring Helpful or Hazardous?
        • 5 Health Secrets
        • Health Resources
        • Nutrition Plans
        • Recipes
        • Food Addiction
        • 7 Key Steps To Long Term Weight Loss
        • Understanding Gluten
      • Location & Hours
      • Clinical Excellence
      • Loss of Curve
      • Refer a Friend
      • Lecture Series
      • Evidence-based Care
      • Medical Massage Therapy
      • Your First Visit
      • Phase I Relief Care
      • Phase II Corrective Care
      • Phase III Wellness Care
      • Chiropractic History
      • The Chiropractic Story
      • HIPPA Information.
    • The Team >
      • Dr. MJ Wegmann and Dr. Kallie Wegmann
      • Dr. Chelsea Bachelor
    • Virtual Office Tour
  • Health Store
  • Providers
    • Refer a Patient
    • Advanced Spine Research
  • 20th Anniversary