The Spinal Solution
Inova Spine Institute Helps Patients Return to a Better Quality of Life
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Susan Mason took a nasty spill in November 2010. After sensing an all-too-familiar “shift” in her back, she called Ronald Childs, MD, Medical Director, Inova Spine Institute, Inova Fairfax Hospital. “I had no intention of leading a sedentary life,” explains the 64-year-old Mason. “And I knew from experience that Dr. Childs is the best there is.”
The two originally met in 1994, when Dr. Childs performed Mason’s first spinal fusion, a surgical procedure to correct problems with the spine’s vertebrae. They met again in 1995 for Mason’s second spinal fusion. Finally, the patient and surgeon reunited for Mason’s third spine surgery — this time through Inova Spine Institute, a unique, collaborative treatment program that today represents the leading spine treatment program in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Changing Times
Between Mason’s first and third surgery, the world had not only moved into a new century, but Dr. Childs had also helped pioneer a new system to improve the results and safety of a minimally invasive spine surgery called extreme-lateral interbody fusion — a procedure that perfectly suited Mason’s needs.
“When I compare my third surgery to the other two, recovery was much quicker,” Mason says.
The improvement in Mason’s experience can be applied to the field of spinal surgery as a whole. “The advent of minimally invasive spine surgeries, like Susan’s, has caused a paradigm shift in how we can treat patients,” says Dr. Childs. “Protocols across the board have vastly improved in physical rehabilitation and pain management as well. The spine remains a complex endeavor, but advancements in our ability to diagnose and treat back and spine disorders have been enormous in the last 15 years.”
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Advanced Treatment
Inova Spine Institute is on the leading
edge of spinal care. It unites the largest
team of back pain specialists in the
region into one comprehensive network.
The result is a collaborative partnership
between rehabilitation physicians,
interventional pain management doctors
and surgeons.
“Too often, patients waste their time
and
money by trying to navigate the complex
web of providers and treatment options
on their own, ending up with appointments with the wrong type of
specialist and receiving ineffective care,”
stresses Rob Theis, Executive Director
of Neurosciences, Inova Spine Institute.
“That’s where the Inova Spine Institute
care coordination team comes into play. One of our spine care intake experts will review your condition, either at one of our many local spine assessment centers or over the phone, and then facilitate an easy transition to the best possible care team.”
The objective of the Institute is to help patients return to a full range of movement and function. “Everything we humans do involves the spine, from moving and standing to taking a breath,” says Dr. Childs. “So our goal, for every patient, is to restore comfortable, functional movement.”
To accomplish this, Inova spine specialists offer a full range of treatment options, including more conservative options, such as pain management and physical therapy, and back surgery. And if surgery is required, the Institute offers the most advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques available.
How the treatment options and techniques blend together for success is a team effort involving clinicians and the patient. “It’s important for patients to realize they play a key role in their recovery,” says Dr. Childs. “Most back injuries, excluding major trauma or tumors, are degenerative in nature; they take time to develop, and it takes time to recover. So the patient’s input, dedication and participation are essential. We’re going to be working together for a while, so it’s important that the patient feels comfortable at all times and everyone is aiming for the same goal — maximized results.”
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