For individuals who have been unable to drive a vehicle due to neurological, orthopedic or other conditions, or for those who have experienced age-related changes in function, the loss of independence can be devastating. The Norton Hospital Driving Assessment Program, a service of Norton Neurosciences & Spine Rehabilitation Center, assists in returning individuals to safe,…
Inline revision of pedicle screws without increasing the screw diameter can be achieved using dual-pitch screws with cancellous pitch in the vertebral body and cortical pitch in the pedicle, according to a study published in The Spine Journal. “Dual-pitch screws may allow for inline revision of screws without upsizing screw diameter, minimizing the risk of…
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have the potential to hasten recovery from lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative spine conditions, with reduced in-hospital opioid consumption and improved postoperative pain scores, according to a study published recently in Global Spine Journal. ERAS, which includes preoperative counseling, nutritional and medical optimization, standardized pain management and anesthesia, and…
Five years after complex adult spinal deformity surgery, patients reported durable improvement in a range of measurable outcomes, according to a recently published study. Patients reported improvements in lower-back pain functionality (Oswestry Disability Index), overall health (SF-36 physical and mental health scores), health-related quality of life (Scoliosis Research Society – 22R) and back and leg…
In-hospital consumption of opioids after elective spine surgery is driven chiefly by age, previous opioid use, smoking and the number of levels fused, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Spine Surgery. With as many as 38% of patients nationally still on opioids one year after elective spine surgery, the researchers sought…
Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas endured pain and weakness in his leg, foot and hip, from lumbar spinal stenosis, for years before seeing Jeffrey L. Gum, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon with Norton Leatherman Spine. Dr. Gum initially managed the trainer’s spine issues with injections. “He always had the next big race to…
A combination of telehealth and remote monitoring is allowing some patients to go home sooner after significant spinal surgery, according to the medical director of Norton Leatherman Spine. Norton Telehealth and “virtual hospital” innovations accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic so patients can get care while practicing social distancing. The shift prompted Steven D. Glassman, M.D.,…
Steven D. Glassman, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon with at Norton Leatherman Spine, has authored the two most frequently cited articles on spinal deformity, according to a long-term analysis published in the journal Spine. The analysis listed the 100 top-cited articles on spinal deformities on record. Two articles by Dr. Glassman, each published in 2005, led…
The National Spine Health Foundation recently highlighted Steven D. Glassman, M.D., and Norton Leatherman Spine’s leadership in patient-based outcome measures in its “Ask the Expert” video series. “Historically, whether a patient did well with surgery was determined by, the doctor said you did well or said you didn’t do well,” Dr. Glassman said in the…
Specialists with Norton Leatherman Spine and Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville can diagnose and treat pediatric patients with mild, moderate or severe scoliosis. Scoliosis may be a concern if a child’s shoulders are uneven, a curve in the spine is visible or the pelvis appears to be tilted. Depending on the type of scoliosis, it…
This week, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons announced an historic partnership to build a national spine registry. As a recognized leader in spine care, Norton Leatherman Spine will be one of the initial pilot sites for the American Spine Registry (ASR), contributing data to the growing body…
Norton Leatherman Spine physicians have a history of innovation and research in areas such as spine surgery safety, spinal deformities and patient-reported outcomes. As participants in numerous studies and trials, our specialist physicians also offer access to ground-breaking treatments. See a list of current clinical trials. Congratulations to Norton Leatherman Spine physicians whose abstracts have been…