Return To Play After Lumbar Fusion? What should our expectations be? | Guest: Dr. Michael Kelly, MD скачать в хорошем качестве

Return To Play After Lumbar Fusion? What should our expectations be? | Guest: Dr. Michael Kelly, MD

“I dont want a fusion, I won’t be able to move anymore!” We hear this concern from our patients all the time. So, how are we seeing a pitcher like Drew Rucinski (who we recently highlighted) return to a pitching regimen? Or an MMA fighter like Nate Quarry return to competitive matches after a lumbar fusion? Or an ‘older’ athlete like Tiger Woods win a Masters after a lumbar fusion? Even my own father (even an ‘older’ athlete … but don’t tell him that — but he falls under the category of every senior discount possible) has returned to running marathons after a single-level lumbar fusion. So that begs the questions: 1. What should YOU (whatever type of athlete you claim to be) expect after single-level lumbar fusion? 2. How still will you be after surgery? 3. What is going to happen to the rest of your spine after one of these fusions? 4. What can we surgeons do (from a planning and execution standpoint) to reduce the risk of degeneration at the neighboring levels 5. Can kids return to sports after a lumbar fusion too? Now let's be honest here — each of the answers to those questions are not absolutes and can be episodes on their own (hmm…. I think we can work on that!) — but, we dive into some of these tougher questions in while discussing expectations related to returning to sports/activities after a short-segment lumbar fusion. Dr. Michael Kelly, who is the Director of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Diego joins us to chat about this fun topic! He is certainly an expert in this field and has ample experience in both the adult and pediatric populations. As surgeons, we are not perfect — nor do we pretend to be. We are always learning, and realize that this pursuit of improvement will always drive how we care for our patients. The indications and technical aspects of lumbar fusions have changed dramatically even in the last decade. We opine on our field and how we can inform our patients as to what to expect following a single-level lumbar fusion. We hope athletes like Drew Rucinski, Nate Quarry, Tiger Woods, and Ja’leah Williams (see one of our prior videos) are not the exceptions, but can become the champions of real expectations following this type of procedure what the surgery is “indicated right” & “done right”! Enjoy!