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Spine Disorders

Disorders of the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots in the spinal column are the most frequent diseases evaluated and treated by the Neurosurgery Department at Upstate Medical University. Our neurosurgeons are fully trained spine surgeons. They evaluate and treat the full range of spinal disorders ranging from spinal cord tumors, herniated discs and spinal deformity. The department brings state-of-the-art treatment together with the forefront evolution of new techniques to treat these challenging, but treatable conditions.

Clinical Programs to treat:

• Degenerative Spinal Diseases including:
  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Cervical disc disease
• Scoliosis
• Spinal Deformities
• Spinal Injuries
• Spinal cord syrinxes
• Spine and spinal cord tumors
• Tethered spinal cord

Care Options

A thorough understanding of spinal biomechanics, decompression, and ever-evolving surgical instrumentation enables Upstate neurosurgical spine specialists to tackle the most complex spinal problems from fractures to tumors to degenerative deformities. They continually incorporate new surgical approaches and techniques including:

• frameless stereotactic surgery of the spine
• flouroscopic guidance
• endoscopic treatment of cervical disc disease
• kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures

Aging changes of the spine can produce pain, herniated discs, spinal stenosis  , and spinal deformity. The Upstate Neurosurgery Spinal Disorders Program provides outstanding care, including consultation and advice for optimizing non-operative care when this is the most appropriate treatment and a variety of decompressive procedures.

Pioneering Efforts & Partnerships

Upstate's fellowship trained spinal specialists have achieved national recognition for pioneering minimally invasive surgical techniques for both the cervical and lumbar spine. Ongoing research interests within this specialty include new interbody fusion, evaluation of artificial spinal discs, dural repair techniques, functional MRI imaging of the brain in spinal cord injury.

Neurosurgery collaborates with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery's Spine Division to manage the most complex spinal surgical problems where the combined expertise of the two departments optimizes patient care. Neurosurgery also integrates care with Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Anesthesia to bring patients the best in non-operative care for spinal disorders.