Leading the West in Outpatient Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery

Nevada's Premier
Spine Surgery Institute

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Conditions We Treat

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Spinal Stenosis

Rapidly occurring narrowing of the Spinal Canal
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Scoliosis

Curvature and deformity of the spine
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Sciatica

Impingement of an inflamed nerve in the Lumbar Spine
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Low Back Pain

Pain situated in the lower Lumbar Spine area
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Neck Pain

Pain situated in the neck area, mostly in adult patients
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Degenerative Disc Disease

Wear and tear phenomenon of the disc as a result of the natural aging process
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Osteoporosis

Decrease in bone mass and structure of the bone.
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Fractures

Physical high and low energy impacts on the spine
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Herniated Disc

Herniations in the discs, in the lower and upper spine
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What sets us apart?

At Sierra Regional Spine Institute we lead the way in customized patient care; as a multidisciplinary spine center, we evaluate a patient and their treatment options individually. We have the capacity to treat a broad spectrum of conditions, including nerve conditions and neurologic disorders. A key philosophy is that we seek minimally invasive, conservative approaches first.

If you are seeking the advice of an expert spine surgeon, rather than a mid-level, you will find that at Sierra Regional Spine Institute. You will see an expert with many years behind them. — Board Certified Fellowship-trained Doctors. Not on the 3rd or 4th visit, on the first. We treat our patients as if they are family and we would only suggest a treatment that we would suggest to a family member.
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Leading Surgical and Non-Surgical Spine Care and Treatment

The Sierra Regional Spine Institute physicians have pioneered the multidisciplinary team approach to spinal treatments, putting together a caring and professional medical group that includes nationally recognized Spinal Surgeons, Spinal Rehabilitation Specialists, Physiatrists (physicians who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation), Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers.
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25 spine practices to know in 2023

Sierra Regional Spine Institute was ranked #14 in Becker's Spine Review 25 spine practices to know in 2023

US Ski Team Physicians

We’re pleased to have two physicians on staff who have been honored with the role of Official U.S. Ski Team Physician.
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the srsi team with the us ski team
Increase Mobility,
Not Incisions.
“Excellent surgeons! I had a neck fusion surgery at SRSI and I have recovered completely and have totally normal mobility in my neck, and a normal lower pain life.”
Satisfied Patient, Cervical Fusion

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Conditions we treat

Learn more about the conditions we treat and how we can help you get back to your active lifestyle.

Treatment Options

We provide a full array of treatments for some of the most common spine conditions.

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Artificial Disc Replacement

At Sierra Regional Spine Institute, we believe that the future is restoration of anatomy and function through motion. The artificial disc replacement is the answer to that problem. Sierra Regional Spine Institute continues to be a leader in Nevada when disc replacement surgery is needed.
It is a surgical procedure in which degenerated intervertebral discs in the spinal column are replaced with artificial disc implants in the lumbar or cervical spine.

The procedure is used to treat chronic, severe low back pain and cervical pain resulting from degenerative disc disease.

Artificial disc replacement has been developed as an alternative to spinal fusion, with the goal of pain reduction or elimination, while still allowing motion throughout the spine. Another possible benefit is the prevention of premature breakdown in adjacent levels of the spine, a potential risk in fusion surgeries.

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Revision Spine Surgery

Revision spine surgery is a surgery procedure performed in certain patients to correct the problems of earlier spine surgery. Revision surgery is only when working with patients who experience chronic pain or any worsening symptoms even after the initial surgery.
Other factors that can indicate the need for revision spine surgery include:

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Decompression

At Sierra Regional Spine Institute we use Decompression in a few ways to treat and make the process of recovery smoother for people with fractures: Microdiscectomy, Microendoscopic Laminectomy, Minimally Invasive Cervical Foraminotomy (MICF), Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty.

Microdiscectomy

Microdiscectomy, also called microlumbar discectomy (MLD), is a very common MIS decompression procedure performed in patients with a symptomatic lumbar herniated disc. The operation consists of removing the portion of the intervertebral disc that is herniated and compressing a spinal nerve root.

Minimally Invasive Cervical Foraminotomy

This is a MIS cervical foraminotomy decompression procedure that enlarges the space in which a spinal nerve root exits the cervical spinal canal (intervertebral foramen). This narrowing can be caused by a herniated disc, bone spurs, thickened ligaments or joints, which may result in pinched nerves.

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) was introduced in the United States in the early 1990s. The procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis, although some patients stay in the hospital overnight. The procedure may be performed with a local anesthetic and intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.

Using x-ray guidance, a small needle containing specially formulated acrylic bone cement is injected into the collapsed vertebra. The cement hardens within minutes, strengthening and stabilizing the fractured vertebra. Most experts believe that pain relief is achieved through mechanical support and stability provided by the bone cement.
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty involves an added procedure performed before the cement is injected into the vertebra. First, two small incisions are made and a probe is placed into the vertebral space where the fracture is located.

The bone is drilled and one balloon (called a bone tamp) is inserted on each side. The two balloons are then inflated with contrast medium (which are visualized using image guidance x-rays) until they expand to the desired height and removed. The spaces created by the balloons are then filled with the cement. Kyphoplasty has the added benefit of restoring height to the spine.

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Cervical Fusion

Cervical Fusion is an operation that creates a solid union between two or more vertebrae in the upper spine (neck) area. This procedure may assist in strengthening and stabilizing the spine and may thereby help to alleviate severe and chronic back pain.
The best clinical results are generally achieved in single-level fusion, although fusion at two levels may be performed in properly selected patients.

Bone grafts may be taken from the hip or from another bone in the same patient (autograft) or from a bone bank (allograft). Bone graft extenders and bone morphogenetic proteins (hormones that cause bone to grow inside the body) can also be used to reduce or eliminate the need for bone grafts.

Fusion sometimes involves the use of supplemental hardware (instrumentation) such as plates, screws, and cages. This fusing of the bone graft with the bones of the spine will provide a permanent union between those bones. Once that occurs, the hardware is no longer needed, but most patients prefer to leave the hardware in place rather than go through another surgery to remove it.

Fusion can sometimes be performed via smaller incisions through MIS techniques. The use of advanced fluoroscopy and endoscopy has improved the accuracy of incisions and hardware placement, minimizing tissue trauma while enabling an MIS approach.

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Lumbar Fusion

This is a MIS technique that is performed in patients with refractory mechanical low back and radicular pain associated with spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, and recurrent disc herniation. The procedure is performed from the back (posterior) with the patient on his or her stomach.

Using x-ray guidance, two 2.5-cm incisions are made on either side of the lower back. The muscles are gradually dilated and tubular retractors inserted to allow access to the affected area of the lumbar spine.

The lamina is removed to allow visualization of the nerve roots. The disc material is removed from the spine and replaced with a bone graft and structural support from a cage made of bone, titanium, carbon-fiber, or a polymer, followed by rod and screw placement.

The tubular retractors are removed, allowing the dilated muscles to come back together, and the incisions are closed. This procedure typically takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours to perform.

Outcome & Benefits

Pioneers of both surgical and non-surgical techniques

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Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

MIS was first performed in the 80s but has recently seen rapid advances. Technological advances have enabled surgeons to expand patient selection and treat an array of spinal disorders, such as degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, fractures, tumors, infections, instability, and deformity.
This can result in quicker recovery, decreased operative blood loss, and speedier patient return to normal function. In some MIS approaches, also called, “keyhole surgeries,” surgeons use a tiny endoscope with a camera on the end, which is inserted through a small incision in the skin. The camera provides surgeons with an inside view, enabling surgical access to the affected area of the spine.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

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