A recommendation for spine surgery usually occurs after a period of conservative treatment involving medications, physical therapy, and injections have failed to provide the patient with adequate relief of symptoms. Once surgery is decided upon, there is a process to determine if a patient is a candidate for minimal spine surgery. Not every patient meets the criteria for these techniques; however, some procedures that can be performed with a minimal approach include the removal of herniated disks, spinal fusions, and the treatment of deformities, fractures, and infection.

Traditional spine surgery usually requires a 5-6 inch incision with extensive dissection and retraction of muscle tissue. This is a common source of postoperative pain and can also lead to significant blood loss. Hospital stays following this type of surgery can last up to 5 days or longer with an overall recovery period of several months.

Minimally invasive spine surgery was developed to treat certain spine problems and delivers the advantage of smaller incisions, less bleeding, less injury to the muscles and other structures of the spine, and shorter hospital stays.  Some of these procedures can even be performed as same-day surgery with the patient going home after a short recovery period.

These procedures are performed through tubular style retractors and special tools that are designed to fit through these retractors. These retractors are placed in the body with the assistance of real-time X-ray. They are passed through the skin and soft tissues down to the spinal column and then held in place during the procedure. The retractor holds the muscles open to allow the surgeon to see the small area in the spine where the problem exists. Sometimes more than one retractor is required to perform the procedure. The surgeon then uses the appropriate instruments to remove bone or disk material through the retractor and is able to place any device, such as screws or rods, if a fusion of the spine is necessary. In order to assist in visualization, a surgeon may choose to use a microscope to magnify the view through the retractor during the surgery. After the surgery is completed, the retractor is removed, minimizing the damage to the muscles.

Back pain and spine problems are very common. Patients should always undergo appropriate nonsurgical treatment before considering surgery. However, if surgery is indicated, the option for minimally invasive spine surgery can make the recovery much easier. The technique is now available at the North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic.

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In 2010, Xiaflex® was approved as a non-surgical alternative for Dupuytren’s disease. Xiaflex® is a collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down collagen. It is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment that can be dramatically effective with just one injection for appropriate candidates. The procedure involves an injection of Xiaflex® into the thickened tissue of the hand. The patient goes home and the medication begins to dissolve the excess collagen overnight. The patient returns to the office the next day. A local anesthetic is then injected into the area and the affected finger is manipulated into a straight position. The patient then meets with our Certified Hand Therapist to have a splint made, which is worn at night for 4 weeks. This alternative treatment gives patients a more conservative, non-surgical choice. It can be extremely effective and avoids the risks commonly associated with surgery. If you have any questions about Dupuytren’s disease or this treatment, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

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In doing so, we provide patients with convenient access to specialized state-of-the-art medical services throughout our region. We believe that providing high-quality care is not only about the medical advice and treatment that we dispense, but more importantly about the relationships that we have with our patients. That is why we are going the extra mile and are proud to have opened our Orthopaedic After Hours Clinic in August 2015.

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The practice of medicine is one of constant learning. We are excited about the many advances in orthopaedic surgery. Our ability to treat the injuries and joint issues of our patients has improved significantly with these new technologies.

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Having served the Ark-La-Miss region since 1951, Orthopaedic & Spine Clinic of Louisiana’s leadership, experience, and expertise in the orthopaedic field are now broadened to include an extended-hours urgent care clinic to its patients since August 17, 2015. For six months this extended-hours clinic has offered immediate access to board-certified orthopaedic surgeons or orthopaedic physician assistants and is open from 5 pm – 8 pm (Monday-Thursday) and 8 am – 11 am (Saturday) at our 1501 Louisville Avenue location in Monroe. 

Since injuries such as sprains, strains and fractures often don’t always happen at convenient times. While, most sports game are held at night and if an injury were to occur you and your family now have the option of skipping the long wait at an emergency room or at a generalized urgent care clinic (where you would be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon). Instead, patients can now immediately receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for an orthopaedic-related problem. 

According to Dr. Daven Spires, one of our board-certified orthopaedic surgeons, “We want to provide to our patients the convenience of specialized orthopaedic care outside of normal business hours. Our goal is to save our patients significant time and expense by creating an alternative to emergency room and urgent care visits for acute orthopaedic problems.” However, because Orthopaedic & Spine Clinic of Louisiana wants to keep its care focused on orthopaedics, patients coming in with general cold symptoms or those needing vaccinations or physicals will be referred to a traditional urgent care clinic.

The Orthopaedic & Spine Clinic of Louisiana’s mission beginning in 1951 is to provide a high level of orthopaedic care and treatment to citizens of Northeast Louisiana and surrounding areas to enable them to reach an optimal level of comfort and functioning. By visiting our extended-hours clinic, patients will benefit from having on-site access to our state-of-the-art facility’s full spectrum of resources and support to include casting, splinting, and radiology. We believe that providing high-quality care is not only about the medical advice and treatment that we dispense, but more importantly about the relationships that we have with our patients.

What makes the Orthopaedic Clinic so successful is the staff and the physicians broad range of specialties. Those specialties include hand and foot reconstruction, sports medicine, spine surgery along with standard hip and knee replacements. You will be greeted with a smile every time you walk through the door. In addition, each day the Clinic has an “on call” physician dedicated to the expedient treatment of patients having sustained an injury. The Clinic is continuously improving the ways to better service its patients. 

“Over the years, we have progressed as medical techniques have advanced,” said Dr. Myron Bailey. “We provide the same advanced services as major metropolitan areas offer, and we provide several convenient offices for our patients.”

Now in three locations, making at easily accessible to the entire northeast Louisiana region. The Orthopaedic Clinic of Monroe-West Monroe-Ruston mission began and remains to provide specialized state of the art medical services to the tri-state area.

With state-of-the-art diagnostic treatment and surgical and rehabilitation services, Orthopaedic & Spine Clinic of Louisiana is here for you. They have assembled an All-Star team of physicians & professional staff dedicated to restoring you to the state of health and well-being that you deserve. Twelve orthopaedic doctors, three sports medicine specialists, and one goal of getting you back in the game. 

For more information about this convenient, cost-efficient way to receive definitive orthopaedic assistance without an appointment and possibly even without a referral, please visit us at www.northlaortho-staging.pntmsip1-liquidwebsites.com, contact us at 318-323-8451, or simply stop by our 1501 Louisville Avenue location in the heart of Monroe, Louisiana. 

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Patient specific instrumentation (PSI) for total knee replacement is the utilization of the patient’s own anatomy (via an MRI or CT scan) to fabricate custom guides that have the optimum alignment built into them. One of the main benefits of PSI is less operating room time, which is due to the fact that several steps of a standard knee replacement are bypassed.

Treating fractures in osteoporotic patients (very weak and thin bone) is a challenge. Locked plating technology was designed to tackle this tough problem. By placing threads in the screw holes, screws now lock into the plate, which significantly improves our ability to hold the fracture in place. These plates also come in specific anatomic shapes for treating fractures of the wrist, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and knee.

When arthritis develops in the shoulder, it can be very debilitating. When this happens in a patient without a working rotator cuff, the problem is a difficult one to treat. The reverse total shoulder was designed specifically to address this issue. It actually changes the position of the ball and socket (thus the “reverse” moniker) to allow other muscles to move the shoulder in lieu of the rotator cuff. Initially it was intended for patients 75 years and older, but the indications are being expanded to include some fractures and salvage procedures.

The practice of medicine is one of constant learning. We are excited about the many advances in orthopaedic surgery. Our ability to treat the injuries and joint issues of our patients has improved significantly with these new technologies.

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