Dennis Crandall, MD tests the strength of the LEVA Interbody Device made by Spine Wave by running over it with his truck. Did it pass the test?

By: Dennis Crandall, MD

With a catchy title like that, most people would read this article with great anticipation. People with back and neck pain are often desperate to find relief and search high and low for minimally invasive treatments to assist them in regaining their pain-free level of function. It is precisely because of the vulnerability of back pain patients that centers who aggressively advertise the latest "LASER" or “MINIMALLY INVASIVE” treatments are so troubling. Most of the centers that spend considerable money advertising, highlighting testimonials and reporting miracle cures with band-aid type of surgery are considered by true spine care physicians as being shameful and predatory on the desperate patient population searching for help.

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix

Dr. Crandall had the opportunity to represent Sonoran Spine as a judge for the 19th Annual Academic Excellence Day held at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Campus. The panel evaluated residents on their research and case report presentation.

Michael S. Chang, MD was recently awarded the Scottsdale Lincoln Health Network (SLHN) 2015 Physician Recognition Award for Rising Leader.  Nominated by his peers, the award honors physicians within the first eight years of professional practice after residency and/or fellowship training for outstanding achievement in the areas of leadership, mentoring, excellence in patient care and customer service within the SLHN. Read his nomination here.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Chang!

To thank Dr. Chang for a successful surgery and the others involved in her care, Anne and her husband hosted a Croatian BBQ in celebration of her recovery. Eight weeks post-surgery, Anne already feels like she has her life back.  Thank you for allowing Sonoran Spine to take part in this amazing celebration!

We would like to introduce The Bone Health Center at Sonoran Spine. Schedule an appointment with Daniela Pal, PA-C, to learn more about  osteoporosis and ways to improve your risks.  Daniela has clinic in Peoria, Phoenix, and Tempe.

Read more here.

Dr. Datta has been named one of 58 great orthopedic surgeons nominated by healthcare leaders. Congratulations Dr. Datta! 

Read the full article from Becker's Spine Review: 
58 great orthopedic surgeons recommended by healthcare leaders

Date:

Saturday, February 21, 2015, 9:00am – 11:00am

Located At:

Venture Out at Mesa | Cabana Room
5001 E. Main Street Mesa, AZ 85205

The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves has invited Dennis Crandall, MD to present his recent research paper entitled: “Long-term Clinical and Occupational Outcomes after Long Segmental Arthrodesis for Spinal Deformity: The Effect of BMI and Smoking.”

This paper was chosen as the TOP International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) paper at the 31st Annual Meeting of the CNS/AANS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves - Spine Summit 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Crandall will present his work in March 2015.

Congratulations to Dr. Crandall and his coauthors: Jan Revella, RN; Ken Schmidt, MD and Ryan McLemore, PhD. To learn more about Sonoran Spine Research and Education Foundation visit: www.spineresearch.org.

For the second consecutive year, Sonoran Spine has been named as one of the 2014 Best Places to Work by the Phoenix Business Journal. Our people are our most valuable asset. Thank you for being dedicated, loyal, and confident in the work you do to help so many others. We genuinely appreciate all of the significant contributions our employees have made to the practice.

On behalf of Sonoran Spine, Lyle Young, MD entered 360 Physical Therapy’s Mummy contest for Halloween. Good luck Dr. Young – this is a great look for you!

The Problem of Pain: From conservative treatments to surgery, options abound for patients in pain

Download PDF Article

The American Academy of Pain Medicine reports that 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain – which is more than diabetes, cancer and heart disease combined.

Not surprisingly, back pain tops the list, afflicting 27 percent of U.S. adults. Severe headaches or migraines, neck pain and facial pain also are top culprits. “It’s really head-to-toe,” says Abram Burgher, M.D., a fellowship-trained pain management physician with The Pain Center of Arizona. “We take everyone and try to figure out what is the best therapy.”

Read on as Valley physicians discuss some of the therapies that are helping patients reclaim active lifestyles with less pain or no pain. 

Chicago — Becker's Healthcare congratulates all members of the 2014 '230 Spine Surgeons to Know' list. The list features spine surgeons from around the country and highlights their leadership roles and professional accomplishments. Surgeons were selected for this list based on their professional experience and role in advancing the field.

Many surgeons featured in this list are founders and presidents of private practices. Others are hospital and health system department leaders. They conduct research in addition to their clinical practice and have published and presented on their findings nationally and internationally. Several surgeons on the list also hold leadership positions with large national societies, associations and organizations.

Click on a link below to view the SanTan Sun News article and read Dr. Lyle Young's advice on backpack safety. 

• Download Article PDF:  Backpack safety tips for kids and teens
• View Article Online: Backpack safety tips for kids and teens

Our interest in patients with spinal disorders and spinal deformity does not end with successful treatment. The Sonoran Spine Research and Education Foundation (SSREF) has established a scholarship fund to assist students who are Arizona residents and have undergone surgery for or overcome a spinal deformity and want to go to college at Arizona State University, University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University. The scholarship is awarded based on how the spinal deformity has impacted the applicant’s life, how the student has been able to live a productive and functional life in spite of the deformity, GPA, and demonstrated volunteer/community service.

We are proud to announce the recipients for the 2014-2015 school year; please help us congratulate Marie Ricks and Giselle Arnold and wish them the best of luck in their future.

Visit the webpage: For more information on SSREF