Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1282067
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists operations, such as cervical laminectomy, cervical fusion, cervical laminoplasty, and lumbar laminectomy and fusion, typically require hospitalizations of two or more days, and SOS spine surgeons perform these procedures at St. Joseph's Health and Crouse Health. Many spine surgeries do not require a hospital stay, and for these, SOS has a dedicated home: Specialists' One-Day Surgery Center, located at 5801 East Taft Road in North Syracuse. There, surgeons perform anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, lumbar discectomy, and one-level laminectomy. Another outpatient proce- dure, sacroiliac joint fusion, may provide relief for individuals with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Requiring just two small incisions in the buttocks, the procedure allows a spine surgeon to solidify the joint with a cage-like implant. One of the most common procedures that Dr. DiStefano performs at the Specialists' One-Day Surgery Center is spinal cord stimulator implantation. Spinal cord stimulation uses implanted electrodes and Offers Full-Spectrum Spine Surgery BY THOMAS CROCKER AT SYR ACUSE ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALISTS (SOS), A FOUR-PHYSICIAN TE AM OF ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS SPECIALIZING IN SPINE SURGERY PERFORMS THE GAMUT OF PROCEDURES FOR NECK AND BACK PAIN, INCLUDING A VARIE T Y OF OUTPATIENT OPER ATIONS AT THE PR ACTICE'S AMBUL ATORY SURGERY CENTER. Richard DiStefano, MD Justin Iorio, MD Warren Wulff, MD Aaron Bianco, MD IN MOST CA SES, nonoperative treatments provide sufficient relief from neck or back pain to allow patients to carry out daily functions and enjoy favorite activities. Options include nonsteroidal anti-inflam- matory medications, chiropractic care, acupuncture, nerve-blocking cortisone injections and physical therapy (PT), which is available from the orthopedics and sports therapy team at SOS. Nonoperative care is also available from one of SOS' partners in care, New York Spine & Wellness Center. "PT is a mainstay of spine care and is quite effective at treating most back problems," says Richard DiStefano, MD, orthopedic surgeon at SOS. "It's an advantage to have PT in our practice because it's easy for physicians and therapists to collaborate to tailor therapy for patients." SURGICAL SOLUTIONS When conservative therapies prove inef- fective, surgery may be appropriate. Large 1 6