laser spine institute guide to miss

7/27/2019 Laser Spine Institute Guide to MISS

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Guide to EndoscopicSpine Surgery


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Table of contents

Message from the CEO 02

About endoscopic spine surgery 03

Why choose Laser Spine Institute? 06

Is endoscopic spine surgery right for you? 07

Streamlined patient experience 08

Meet our surgeons 09

State-of-the-art facilities 12

Patient stories 13

Frequently asked questions 15


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Message from Chief Executive Officer

Bill Horne

Like many of you, I have lived with chronic pain. Being an active and athletic

person, a neck injury was taking a toll on my daily activities. It was affecting

my work as well as my personal life.

I had neck and shoulder pain that radiated down my arm causing a feeling of an

electric charge as well as a loss of feeling in my fingers, which progressively

worsened over a nine-month period. I did everything I could to alleviate my pain

short of a surgical procedure including physical therapy, electrical stimulation,

ultrasound, traction, and epidural steroid injections, but they were only

temporary fixes.

I received the same diagnosis and treatment after meeting with four different surgeons. They wanted to takea bone out of my hip, cut the front of my neck 6 inches, fuse the bone to the vertebrae, and place a steel

plate and six screws to hold everything in place. Although this major procedure seemed terrifying, I felt that it

was my only hope and I needed to book the surgery.

Luckily, about one week before my surgery date, I met a friend for lunch and he told me about a spine procedure

that his wife had just gone through and had significant improvement. I found out that it was Dr. James St. Louis

who performed the procedure, and I cancelled my previous surgical date immediately. I met with Dr. St. Louis

who diagnosed my three herniated discs that were impinging the nerve and causing most of my pain. When the

surgery was complete, I could feel relief in the operating room. I walked one mile that evening, returned to work

the next day, started working out with weights five days later, and played a round of golf 10 days after surgery!

Three years later, I am able to enjoy traveling, spending time with my wife and children, and playing many rounds

of golf. I was so impressed with this minimally invasive spine procedure that I became a managing partner

for Laser Spine Institute. As the CEO and walking testimonial for Laser Spine Institute, I want to spread the word

about endoscopic spine surgery and share my story with potential patients all over the world.

Whether you choose our location in Tampa, FL; Scottsdale, AZ; Philadelphia, PA; or Oklahoma City, OK;

Laser Spine Institute offers a state-of-the-art medical destination with five-star amenities for those who suffer

from back and neck pain.

Congratulations on taking the next step toward becoming free of the pain!

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About endoscopic spine surgery

Laser Spine Institutes minimally invasive procedures are the safe and effective alternative to open back or

neck surgery. Each month, more people come to Laser Spine Institute to relieve their neck and back pain than

to any other spine surgery center in the nation.

Advantages of our endoscopic spine surgery:

Outpatient procedure

No lengthy recovery

Less than 1-inch incision

No fusions or hardware

93.8% patient satisfaction

Providing relief for these conditions:

Spinal stenosis

Bulging/herniated discs

Pinched nerves

Degenerative disc disease

Bone spurs

Sciatica

Arthritis of the spine

Facet disease

Foraminal stenosis

Laser Spine Institute specializes in four types of endoscopic surgeries.

Foraminotomy

To relieve pressure on nerves compressed by the intervertebral foramen.

Laminotomy

To relieve pressure on the spinal cord compressed by spinal stenosis.

Endoscopic Discectomy

To remove the portion of a herniated or bulging disc that is pressing on a nerve root or the spinal cord.

Surgeons utilize X-ray monitoring and fiber-optics devices in order to see precisely what is compressing the

nerve and to remove it without causing any destabilization of the spine.

Facet Thermal Ablation

To debride the facet joint and deaden the nerve utilizing a laser and irrigation inside a 2mm tube.

Nearly all surgical procedures are performed at Laser Spine Institute with local anesthetic and intravenous

sedation. In the operating room, a small incision is made, and a series of tubes, increasing in size, are placed

over the first tube, one at a time, to slowly create an opening to the spine. This practice allows the surgeons

to perform spinal procedures with minimal damage to the surrounding muscles. Through the last translucent

working tube (18mm in diameter), a laser, camera, suction, irrigation and other small surgical instruments

can be inserted. The procedure is conducted under X-ray guidance and the patient is comfortable throughout

the procedure.


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Once the procedures are complete, the tube is slowly removed allowing the muscles to move back into

place. Only a stitch or two is used to close the incision. Approximately an hour after recovery, the patient with

their companion is free to return home or to their hotel room.

Following a day of rest and recovery, the patient will meet with the surgeons nurse and medical assistant

who will evaluate the incision, change the bandage, and provide wound care instructions and dressing

material. The patient is also given detailed instructions on postoperative care recommendations and follow-up

protocol. It is imperative that these guidelines are adhered in order to ensure patient safety and prevent

postsurgical complications.

Finally, the patient is provided with individualized activity instructions to reintegrate normal activities

once they return home.

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Condition treated

Spinal Stenosis

Herniated/Bulging Discs

Pinched Nerves

Bone Spurs

Degenerative Facet Joints

Sciatica

Arthritis of the Spine

Facet Arthritis

Facet Disease

Facet Hypertrophy

Facet Joint Syndrome

Foraminal Stenosis

Foraminotomylaser-assisted

Laminotomylaser-assisted

Facet ThermalAblationlaser-based

EndoscopicDiscectomylaser-assisted

Laser Spine Institute specializes in four types of endoscopic surgeries.


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Relief without the complications of open back surgery or fusion

Minimally invasiveendoscopic procedures Open back/fusion

Hospital stay

Infection rate

Complication rate

None

0.1%

4%

25 days

27%

31%

Why choose Laser Spine Institute?

Laser Spine Institute successfully performs more endoscopic spine surgeries each month than any other

spine surgery center in the nation, setting us apart as the leader in endoscopic spine surgery.

Below you will find a few distinguishing facts and figures about Laser Spine Institute:

1. Our dedication to minimally invasive procedures has made Laser Spine Institute the largest spine surgery

center in the nation. This advantage grows every week, leading to a higher level of expertise, as Laser

Spine Institute helps thousands of families get their lives back.

2. Laser Spine Institute has built its comprehensive medical facilities to provide an integrated service within

the walls of each surgical center, or by trusted service providers nearby. Provided services include:

complete clinical evaluation, state-of-the-art imaging, diagnostic testing, pain management, surgery and

postoperative assessment.*

3. Laser Spine Institute patients report industry-leading results for patient experience that are almost 30

points higher than the national hospital average.

4. All surgeons complete Laser Spine Institutes proprietary fellowship training, led by Chairman of Surgery

Emeritus, Founder Dr. James St. Louis, two-time recipient of the Physician of the Year award in 2005 and

2008 by the American Association of Physician Specialists in the field of Orthopedic Surgery.

5. Over 87% of patients report improvement in their quality of life within three months of having their surgery

and some patients report improvement at the moment of their surgery.

6. Over 70% of patients travel from out-of-state and 10% from outside the country seeking Laser Spine

Institutes unique expert treatment and unparalleled service.

7. 427 dedicated employees including 21 expert surgeons and physicians, and nearly 200 medical

professionals, who have dedicated their careers exclusively to Laser Spine Institute ensuring completecomfort and the delivery of our Above and Beyond Service for patients and their families.

* Some patients individual medical conditions may require additional testing that Laser Spine Institute will facilitatethrough a third-party service provider.

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Is endoscopic spine surgery right for you?

This first easy step in determining if Laser Spine Institutes endoscopic approach is right for you is having

your MRI or CT scans reviewed by one of our board-certif ied physicians or medical professionals. For your

convenience we offer three ways you can take advantage of this complimentary service.

Review by phone

The MRI Review Department reviews hundreds of studies on a daily basis delivered from around the world.

Our expert physicians review MRI and CT scan films, CDs and reports to assess the prospective patients

pathology to determine if Laser Spine Institute can help.

One-on-one medical consultationOne-on-one consultations are available in each of our surgical facilities as well as our medical consultation

centers in Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, and The Villages. This is a unique opportunity to meet with a Laser

Spine Institute medical professional to review reports, discuss the patients pathology and symptoms, and

determine if an endoscopic procedure is the right solution for you.

Medical seminar

Laser Spine Institute seminar staff travels the continental United States and Canada educating those who

suffer from back and neck pain. The program begins with personal face-to-face discussions with a physician

to assess each potential patients pathology, symptoms assessment and initial determination of candidacy for a

Laser Spine Institute procedure. Visit SpineSeminar.com to view upcoming seminars throughout North America.


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Streamlined patient experience

Through our streamlined process, patients receive all necessary treatments related to their spinal condition

in as little as one week. Receiving the highest quality of care, patients go from evaluation to recovery and return

to their lives after the Laser Spine Institute experience.

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* Diagnostic procedures in Philadelphia and Oklahoma City are facilitated by Laser Spine Insti tute through a third-party provider.

Once the patient is discharged and returns home, a patient services liaison continues to provide continuous

patient support and superior postoperative care. In doing so, the liaison plays a key role in all aspects of patient

recovery and outcome, helping each patient optimize improvement in their quality of life.

Laser Spine Institute spinal diagnostic center

Spinal Diagnostics is a division of Laser Spine Institute, established to serve the preoperative needs of surgical

patients with the primary goal of optimizing surgical outcomes. The majority of patients seeking treatment at

Laser Spine Institute have clearly identifiable areas of anatomic compression, allowing straight-forward surgical

treatment decisions. However, a few patients have subtle or complex MRI pathoanatomy, which requires

additional evaluation prior to receiving a surgical order.

Who needs additional diagnostic testing?

The most common indications that a patient would need additional diagnostic testing are those with MRI findings

of multilevel degenerative disc disease, producing more than one area of nerve root compression. Information

provided through a diagnostic selective nerve root block can isolate the primary area of pain from a particular

spinal level, allowing the surgery to be directed at the optimal site. Due to the focally decompressive nature

of endoscopic procedures, this step can be essential to the surgical order.

Common diagnostic procedures performed at Laser Spine Institute are diagnostic facet injections, selective

nerve root blocks (SNRB), and discograms. All diagnostic procedures are performed by a board-certified

physician with specialized training and experience. Our dedicated state-of-the-art procedure suite is equipped

with fluoroscopic X-ray equipment to safely and accurately complete each procedure.* These procedures

are reserved for those patients medically cleared and scheduled for endoscopic treatment.

Some patients individual medical conditions may require additional testing that Laser Spine Institute will facilitate through a third-party service provider.

Day One and Two

Evaluation

Physical andDiagnostic testing

Day Three

Surgery

Day Four

Rest andrecovery

Day Five

Postoperativeappointment


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James St. Louis, D.O.

Chairman of Surgery Emeritus,Founder

Board certified in Orthopedic

Surgery by The American Board of

Physician Specialists

Appointed to the state Board of

Osteopathic Medicine by thegovernor of Florida

2005 and 2008 Physician of

the YearAmerican Association of


Meritorious Service Award

United States Army

Michael Weiss, D.O., FAOAO

Chairman of Surgery


Surgery by The AmericanOsteopathic Board

of Orthopedic Surgery

Fellow, American Osteopathic

Academy of Orthopedics

President of the American

Osteopathic Academy of

Orthopedics, Spinal Surgery Section

Member, North American

Spine Society

Board of Trustees, Florida

Osteopathic Medical Association

Meet our surgeons

The surgeons at Laser Spine Institute specialize exclusively in relieving back and neck pain through minimally

invasive, outpatient procedures. With more than 70 years of combined experience in these advanced

techniques, our surgeonsled by Chairman of Surgery Emeritus, Founder Dr. James St. Louisperform moreendoscopic procedures each month than any other spine surgery center in the nation.

Craig Wolff, M.D.

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon




Graduated Magna Cum Laude

from Princeton University

Fellow, American Academy of

Minimally Invasive Spinal Medicine

and Surgery

Named One of the Best Doctors

in America for 200506Best

Doctors Inc.

Vernon Morris, M.D.


Board certified in Orthopaedic

Surgery by The AmericanBoard of Orthopaedic Surgery

Board certified in

Pain Management

AMA Award for

Physician Recognition

Member, Florida

Medical Association


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Zoltan Bereczki, D.O.


Member, American Academy of

Orthopedic Surgeons

Member, American Osteopathic

Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

Member, American

Osteopathic Association

Licensed Doctor of Osteopathic

Medicine in Florida

Stefan Prada, M.D.

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Board certified in Or thopaedic


Orthopaedic Surgery

Fellow, American Academy of

Orthopedic Surgeons

Decorated Military Service Member

Timothy Luke, M.D.


Named Americas Top

Orthopedist2008

Two-time winner of Patients Choice,

a coveted award received by less

than 6% of physicians nationwide

Member, North American

Spine Society

Member, American Association of

Orthopedic Surgeons

Member, American

Medical Association

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Meet our surgeons

Keith Girton, M.D.


Board certified by the American

Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Board certified by the

American Board of Independent

Medical Examiners


Orthopaedic Surgeons

Mark A. Flood, D.O.

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Board certified in Orthopedic Surgery

Fellowship trained in Spine Surgery

Fellowship trained in Scoliosis and

Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery

Member, American Osteopathic

Board of Orthopedic Surgery

Kit C. McCalla, D.O., M.B.A.



American Osteopathic Board of

Orthopedic Surgery


National Board of Osteopathic

Medical Examiners


Orthopaedic Surgeons

Member, American

Osteopathic Association


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State-of-the-art facilities

Laser Spine Institute has built its comprehensive medical facilities to provide an integrated service where

all required services are coordinated for the patient, including: complete clinical evaluation, state-of-the-art

imaging, diagnostic testing, pain management, surgery, and postoperative assessment.

Our dedicated employeesincluding an expert surgical team led by Chairman of Surgery Emeritus, Founder

Dr. James St. Louis, esteemed medical professionals and patient care personneldedicate their time and

energy exclusively to Laser Spine Institute, ensuring complete comfort and delivery of Above and Beyond

service for patients and their families.

You will receive the best quality of care and feel comfortable in our environment. From the moment you walk

in the door, our professional staff welcomes you and guides you throughout the Laser Spine Institute experience.

Our commitment to endoscopic spine surgery has made Laser Spine Institute the largest health care

provider of this technique in the nation. This advantage grows every week, leading to a higher level of

expertise, as Laser Spine Institute helps thousands of patients get their lives back.

Surgical Centers

1. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

2. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

3. Scottsdale, Arizona

4. Tampa, Florida

Consultation Centers

5. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

6. San Diego, California

7. The Villages, Florida

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Patient stories

Captain Norm Isaacs story

It is hard to describe a man like Captain Norm Isaacs. If you wereto meet him, you would quickly realize that a life with back pain

was not an option for Norm. He has lived an exciting life from signing

a contract with the New York Yankees right out of high school

to working as a flight instructor to becoming a professional big

game fisherman.

Since 1986, Norm has dedicated his life to his career of professional

big game fishing and shows on Fox Sports Network such as

Big Game Fishing the World, Big Game Bites and Inside Big Game

Fishing. Big game fishing involves tremendous physical strength

and balance hooking up fish like 800-pound marlin, which would bea difficult task for anyone to accomplish.

Living an active lifestyle for many years, Norm experienced low back pain and pinched nerves down

his right leg that worsened over time. He was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, bulging disc,

foraminal & spinal stenosis and facet hypertrophy. Between fishing excursions, Norm tried several dif ferent

forms of conservative treatment like chiropractic, physical therapy and acupuncture to relieve the

aggravating pain.

He was apprehensive at the thought of spine surgery and concerned it would affect his career and true

passion for fishing. Norm knew that after failing conservative treatment it was the best option. Once he

came to Laser Spine Institute, he was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere, caring staff, and five-star

service he received throughout his outpatient treatment.

In September 2008, Dr. James St. Louis performed a laminotomy & foraminotomy and a few days later,

Norm was amazed at the difference. He commented that you dont realize how much you missed feeling

good until you feel good!

Ten months after his surgery, Norm stressed that his back is no longer bothered by bending down and

picking up fish or spending days on the boat. He mentions that Laser Spine Institute is nothing short

of a miracle. Excited about his life after the surgery, he commented on his experience saying, Absolutely

a life-changing experience. Im back on the boats. Im back to doing the things I normally do. Im back

to playing golf and Im not hurting.


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Patient stories

Ingrid Honzaks story

Ingrid Honzak, 59, finished the 2007 New York City Marathon six weeksafter her endoscopic spine surgery at Laser Spine Institute. Her surgeon

performed a laminotomy and foraminotomy on the left side of her lumbar

spine in September prior to the November race. One year later, Ingrid reports

great improvement with little to no pain in her lower back and left leg.

For over 10 years, she suffered from lumbar pain and a pinched nerve,

which affected her left leg. The pain went from tolerable to unbearable early

last year. Ingrid was chosen out of 100,000 applicants to run the marathon

but she grew weary of her current condition. She was concerned about

running on pavement, which has a greater impact on muscles and joints than

mountain trail racing. With limited improvement from conservativetreatment, Ingrid contacted Laser Spine Institute to have a procedure scheduled

in anticipation of the big race.

She submitted her MRI for review by Laser Spine Institute Medical Director, Dr. Michael Perry. During

the conversation regarding her candidacy, Ingrid voiced her concern regarding the ability to participate in

the marathon in November. Encouraged by the fact most patients walk the day of surgery, she knew

Laser Spine Institute was the best option.

After a complete medical evaluation and surgical consultation, Ingrid had minimally invasive endoscopic spine

surgery at Laser Spine Institute in Tampa, Florida. She was comforted by the caring clinical nursing staff and

the anesthesiologist who held her hand throughout the surgery. Her hopes were fulfilled when she was able to

walk the day of her surgery. After her postoperative appointment, Ingrid returned home to continue physicaltherapy and training.

In response to her Laser Spine Institute experience, she commented, It is amazing what they can do! While

they might not be able to fix everyone, the experience for me was fabulous! I have never been treated so well at

a medical facility. I can remember the anesthesiologist holding my hand before surgery and it truly comforted

me. Everyone at Laser Spine Institute was very kind to me. I would encourage anyone who is interested in having

back or neck surgery to contact them.

After her surgery at Laser Spine Institute, Ingrid returned to work within one week and training in only four weeks.

A combination of stationary bike riding and intense water aerobics including water-jogging with a weight

belt prepared her for the race. Reunited with her true passion of running, Ingrid crossed the finish line with the

same tremendous sense of accomplishment.


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Frequently asked questions

We understand that you want to be fully informed before making a decision about surgery. We have

listed a few of the questions we receive on a daily basis. For more frequently asked questions, please visit

www.LaserSpineInstitute.com or contact a Patient Coordinator.

Q: How long have your surgeons been performing this procedure?

A: Our surgeons have over 70 years of combined experience performing these procedures. Members of the

surgical team have been proprietary fellowship trained at our facility, in addition to bringing significant

experience with minimally invasive endoscopic surgical techniques gained at other respected healthcare

providers. They are also highlighted by over four decades of general surgical experience to add to

their procedure-specific experience.

Q: Why arent more doctors performing this type of procedure?

A: These sophisticated procedures are specialized and perfected by Laser Spine Institute. This type of surgery

employs advanced medical technology, and Laser Spine Institute is at the forefront of this movement.

Though training is available at minimally invasive residency programs, there is a steep learning curve to

master these procedures. In addition, most programs do not provide the patient volume for a resident

to achieve the level of expertise that characterizes our surgeons.

A traditional spine surgeon would have to sacrifice his practice and be trained by a senior surgeon at a facility

specializing in these procedures. Many surgeons do not want to make that kind of commitment. While

similar procedures are offered by other practit ioners, our highly skilled surgeons are able to advance the

minimally invasive approach to spine care through their extensive experience at Laser Spine Institute.

The advancement that our surgeons practice here would take years to develop in other practices.

Q: How should I prepare for surgery?

A: If a patient is planning to have surgery, he or she must discontinue all anti-inflammatories, multi-vitamins,

and herbal supplements fourteen days prior to surgery. If a patient is taking anti-coagulates, such as

Plavix or Coumadin, he or she must obtain a clearance from their prescribing physician prior to discontinuing

those medications. Laser Spine Institute provides a medical consultation and clearance department

that will communicate with you over the phone and answer any questions that you may have in regards to

medication or treatment prior to arrival. Finally, every patient must bring a friend or family member to

accompany them for the day of surgery.


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Frequently asked questionsi

Q: When may I resume my normal/physical activity?

A: After experiencing endoscopic spine surgery at Laser Spine Institute, most patients are able to walk under

their own power the day of surgery. The next day is a day of rest and recovery. Finally, there is a

postoperative appointment, and then patients are discharged. Patients with a job that requires little or no

manual labor may return to that job within a matter of days. Our physicians will limit lifting to 15 pounds

for the first few weeks. Gradually, the patient may return to normal physical activity as their body strengthens

itself. Patients typically experience a full recovery in between four to six weeks. However, it is important

to follow the instructions of our licensed medical professionals as each patient has a different path to recovery.

Q: Is endoscopic spine surgery covered by healthcare insurance?

A: Laser Spine Institute accepts most insurance. Our team has worked with health insurance companies to

make our outpatient surgery more accessible to you. The result is that out-of-pocket expenses havedropped significantly over the past year. In fact, average out-of-pocket costs for Laser Spine Institute patients

have decreased from 90% to 30% since 2008.

To confirm your health insurance benefits, call today to speak to a Laser Spine Institute Patient Coordinator.


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Join our online community.

Find us on Facebook and become a fan

www.facebook.com/laserspine

Keep up to date on our blog

blogs.laserspineinstitute.com

Follow us on Twitter

www.twitter.com/laserspine

Find a free medical seminar in your area

www.SpineSeminar.com

Contact

www.LaserSpineInstitute.com

1-866-847-4816
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