Patient Stories
Fellows are exposed to a variety of pediatric and adult cases while being mentored by our faculty who are experts in spine surgery. We remain committed to providing world-class, patient-focused orthopedic care to all while training up the next generation of spine surgeons.
Dr. Kristen Jones, MD, who is dually trained in neurosurgical and orthopedic surgery, recommended removing the patient's entire vertebra associated with the tumor. “The only way to ensure that Cassidy’s tumor didn’t come back – based on its size and invasiveness – was to remove it and the surrounding bone completely,” explained Jones. On May 18, 2018, she led a team of University of Minnesota Medical Center surgeons who were prepared to do just that.
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Orthopedic spine surgeon Christopher Martin, MD, helps spine patients regain their mobility
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Christopher Martin, MD, has a unique, patient-centered approach to spinal care.
Complex spine patient struggled to have people believe her – until she came to the U of M
“Alanna came to us with severe neurologic impairment. She was losing the use of her right hand and could barely walk,” Dr. Kristen Jones explained. “We verified that she had severe spinal cord compression at the junction of her skull and spine. Her innate anatomy made her case quite complicated…I think that’s why she was bounced around a bit by the other physicians.
“Performing the C1-C2 fusion that Alanna required is fairly common,” Jones continued, “however, this case represented many unique challenges. It was our pleasure to help her when she hadn’t been able to find help elsewhere.”
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"Dr. Jones gave me a high five and said, ‘You beat the odds, girl.’ I just started crying. It was a miracle.”
Knowing when it’s time to get something done about your back pain
Dr. David W. Polly Jr., MD, explained to his patient Susan that she had isolated L [lumbar] 2 and 3 disc degeneration collapse and retrolisthesis, an acute spine condition in which a single vertebra gets displaced and moves backwards onto the vertebra lying immediately below it. Polly felt there was a good combination of minimally invasive techniques that would work for Susan.
“Dr. Polly did an excellent job describing the problem clearly, and honestly characterizing the possibility of surgical success or failure,” said Susan. “Afterwards, Andrew talked at length with both my husband and me. He recommended that I should have the surgery.”
On January 9, 2017, she had the procedure. The first small incision (1.5”) would be through her side. “With fluoroscopic and EMG [electromyography] control, we did what’s called a transpsoas approach,” Polly (pictured at left) said. “We cleaned out the disc, elevated it back up to where it was supposed to be, and put in a plastic spacer with bone morphogenetic protein in it.” The spacer would encourage “fusion,” or bone growth, to strengthen both it and the surrounding vertebra.
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