- No general anesthesia
- Outpatient treatment without hospital stay
- No injury of muscles and connective tissue
- In general no postoperative pain or muscle pain
- No scarring
- Very low risk of infections
- Very short recovery time

During the surgical operation - which lasts approximately one hour - the patient is analgosedated. This means that the pain is numbed (analgesia), and the patient is sedated (sedation). Compared to general anaesthesia, the patient is able to react immediately to possible pain, meaning nerve damage is almost impossible.

Although the patient is awake and responsive during the whole surgical operation, memory capacity is limited. As a result, the procedure is also suitable for patients with fear of surgery.

Thanks to improvements in anaesthesia, analgesia is well tolerated, and can even be used on elderly patients, or patients with cardiovascular problems. For elderly patients anesthesists rely on Remifentanilhydrochlorid (active pharmaceutical ingredient/Abbr. AP of Ultiva^®) as it is decomposed by the tissue rather than by the liver and kidneys.

The surgeon removes only leaked íntervertebral disc material, and does not injure surrounding tissue. Therefore stability of the spinal column is maintained, and patients can generally leave the hospital on the same day.

Minimal-invasive keyhole technique: the smallest possible access

When operating according to this method, surgeons avoid wide and deep cuts. Instead, surrounding tissue is dilated step by step, and the muscles and connective tissue surrounding the spinal column are protected. The treatment is “bloodless”. Scarring, wound and muscle pain is very rare, and the risk of infection is reduced considerably.

Quick recovery with endoscopy

US research hospital “The Cleveland Clinic Foundation” stated that “a patient who has been treated according to the endoscopic method will be free of pain within three to six weeks, whereas the recovery period for the conventional method is estimated at three to six months.”

The success rate of the TESSYS^® method is proven to lie around 90%. Generally, the number of patients who have to be re-operated on is relatively small at only 5%-6%, this compares favourably to patients previously operated on using another method where approximately 10% to 12% require another operation.

Horseback Riding After Direct Anterior Hip Replacement from Holly Taylor on Vimeo.

A patient of Dr. Bill Barnes at Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex sends our office a video of himself working on his ranch in Montana, four weeks post-op after having a Direct Anterior Total Hip Replacement. Recovery time is much quicker and less painful with this approach compared to traditional hip replacement.

low back pain

A commonly overlooked cause of lower back pain may be the Sacroiliac (SI) joint.  The SI joint can be responsible for up to 25% of lower back pain.  New diagnostic and therapeutic procedures have recently become available which you may find of value.

Potential causes of SI joint dysfunction may include degenerative disease, history of trauma, failed back surgery and pregnancy/childbirth.  Recent clinical publications report that 43% of all post-lumbar and lumbosacral fusion patients may have SI joint dysfunction.

SI joint symptoms often limit self-supporting daily activities, work, social and recreational pursuits. Lack of activity can lead to obesity, depression and general physical deterioration.

If you are experiencing lower back pain, we encourage you to contact our office for an appointment to see if the SI joint may be your pain generator.  We would be pleased to discuss how the SI joint causes lower back pain and new treatment options including: non-operative therapy, and a new minimally invasive procedure.

Dr. Kevin Moore

Dr. Moore received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Indiana University and subsequently attended Barry University of Podiatric Medicine in Miami, Florida where he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.). He completed his surgical residency at the Surgical Hospital of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dr. Moore is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Dr. Moore joins the Piedmont Orthopaedic practice with Bill Barnes, M.D., Jeffrey Burnette, M.D., Layne Myers, M.D., Kevin Stevenson, M.D. and Pamela Onderko, D.P.M. Appointments can be scheduled during normal office hours on Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm by calling 478.474.2114. Appointment scheduling and more information can also be found online at www.piedmontorthocomplex.com.

Quick, In-office procedure

If your toenails appear brittle, yellow or thickened, you could be suffering from a fungal toenail infection that could continue to worsen over time if measures are not taken to stop the infection. Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex is now offering an exciting new in-office laser treatment for nail fungus. This new technology is clinically proven, safe and effective, posing none of the risks and harmful side effects of oral anti-fungal medications. For more information about the fungal nail laser treatment, please contact Holly Taylor at 478.405.2350.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have a nail fungus? What causes it?

Scheduling an initial appointment with one of our Podiatrists is the first step that you can take to determine if the problem you are having is caused by a nail fungus. Often, patients with fungal nails may have pain, thick, yellow and unsightly nails. Toenail infections can be caused by heavy foot perspiration, poor shoe/sock ventilation or walking barefoot in damp areas such as a gym or locker room.

How does the laser treatment work?

The laser kills the fungus infection in the nail bed allowing the new nail to grow out unaffected. Typical treatment is under 20 minutes.

Does it hurt?

No, you should have no pain or discomfort during the treatment. However, some people feel a warm tingling sensation.

How soon will I see improvement?

On average, a toenail will replace itself every 9-12 months. Healthy new growth will be visible within the first 2 months as your nails continue to grow following the laser treatment. You can resume normal activities immediately. There are no bandages or pain relief required.

If you would like more information, please attend our lunch and learn in June.

Where: Coliseum Northside Hospital, 400 Charter Blvd, Macon, Georgia

When: Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Time: 12 noon-1:00pm

Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Burnette, Orthopaedic Surgeon

Free lunch will be provided, but pre-registration is required. Please call 478-746-4646 to register.

To get more information on the anterior approach to hip replacement, or if you have questions about the lunch and learn, please call Holly Taylor at 478-405-2350 or email Holly at htaylor@piosm.com

You can find more information on anterior hip replacement surgery by clicking here.

Dr. Kevin L. Stevenson

Dr. Stevenson, Neurosurgeon,  specializes in all aspects of comprehensive spine care, minimally invasive spine procedures and complex spine surgery.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
2002-2003 University of Washington Hospitals, Seattle, Washington
Fellow in Complex Spine and Pediatric Neurosurgery
2001-2002 University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chief Resident in Neurological Surgery
1996-2001 University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Resident in Neurological Surgery
1995-1996 University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Internship in General Surgery
1991-1995 Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois
M.D., Cum Laude
1987-1991 Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois
B.A., Cum Laude
Major: Pre-Medicine