Spine Program

Maintaining the health and proper interaction of the spine, spinal cord and nerves are critical to leading a normal life. Unfortunately, spinal disorders are extremely common. Whether it is a backache or pinched nerve, nearly everyone will experience a spinal condition at some point in their life. When you experience back pain or discomfort, the Cedars-Sinai Department of Neurosurgery offers experts in the field to help diagnose and treat spine conditions in order to help minimize pain and discomfort, and quickly return you to your normal life.

The complexity of the spine requires a multidisciplinary approach to management and treatment. Our approach begins with an office visit, discussion and examination. We have access to all the latest technology and testing equipment to assist our physicians in arriving at an accurate diagnosis. Our physicians always consider all non-operative and operative measures for treating each spinal disorder to ensure that each patient receives the most effective treatment possible. We work closely with pain management specialists, radiologists, interventional physiatrists, neurologists, and physical therapists to best diagnose and treat each patient.

The multidisciplinary team treats the full spectrum of spine disorders including:

• Aging spine
• Arthritis
• Astrocytoma
• Cervical myelopathy
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Cervical, thoracic or lumbar disc herniation
• Chiari malformation
• Chordoma
• Complex spinal reconstruction
• Compression fractures
• Degenerative disc disease
• Degenerative spine (spondylosis and spondylolisthesis)
• Discitis
• Ependymoma
• General and complex spinal disorders
• Hemangioblastoma
• Hydomyelia
• Hyperhidrosis
• Meningioma
• Neck and back pain
• Nerve sheath tumor
  • Acoustic Neuromas
  • Neurilemmomas
  • Schwannomas
• Post-traumatic cervical instability
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
• Spinal cord and vascular spine disorders
• Spinal cord dysraphya
• Spinal cord injuries and fractures
• Spinal cord lipomas and lipomyelomeningoceles
• Spinal deformities
• Spinal epidural abcess
• Spinal metastatic tumor
• Spinal stenosis
• Spine trauma
• Sports injuries
• Syringomyelia
• Vertebral osteomyelitis

In order to treat these disorders, the Department of Neurosurgery offers fellowship-trained neurosurgeons that excel in their field, publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at national and international meetings, conduct research, and are experienced in the latest techniques including:

• Artificial disc replacement
• Discectomy (microdiscectomy)
• Fusion: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF),Posterior Lumber Interbody Fusion (PLIF),Tranforminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
• Microsurgery
• Minimally-invasive surgical approaches and techniques

Minimally-invasive surgery has made a tremendous impact on spine surgery. These techniques can result in less blood loss, less pain and infections, shorter hospital stays, as well as a quicker return to normal activities.

For an appointment, a second opinion or more information, please call 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771) or e-mail us.