FREE MRI or CT Scan Review
An MRI is the best way to tell what is going on in the spine. Your local doctor can prescribe one for you. You can then fax in the written report and mail the actual films or CD to the Back Institute for a free evaluation by one of our medical staff.
Back Institute medical staff will determine if you are a candidate for a Non-Traumatic Discectomy or another procedure.
Back Institute offers a comprehensive analysis of the spine and our center treats all spine problems. We treat spinal conditions with the best procedure done in the least invasive way possible anywhere in the world
FAX: 310-659-8869
Free MRI Review Mailing address: 920 S. Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035
Avoid Laser Hype
Deceptive Language
What is actually done?
“Laser Spine Surgery” is misleading language used in promotional material from other centers. The unfortunate reality is that, many centers do a very traumatic access operation requiring a sizeable opening, stretching and tearing muscle, drilling and cutting out bone, ligament and joint.
The bone, ligament and joint removed is typically completely normal and healthy, doing an important job in the spine. But, removing it causes permanent damage and there may be permanent symptoms because of this damage (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome).
After doing this type of damaging opening, llaser is of no benefit. If used at all, it would be just in order to call it “Laser Surgery”. In fact, Laser is only rarely needed in any spine procedure.
What some other centers do?
The spine model shown is exactly reconstructed from the CT scan shown below, after a Florida surgeon performed an operation drilling out and removing completely the wall of bone from the left side of the spine in this spot. The upper joint and surface of the joint was also completely removed.
This operation has created permanent and un-necessary damage to what was normal and healthy bone and joint. The patient will never heal or recover from this surgical trauma. Joint cannot re-create itself.
There was nothing wrong with the bone or joint before the surgery. The patient had only a herniated disc problem, which could have been treated without trauma to the normal parts of the spine.
The patient was deceived; he had this operation after hearing about laser and arthroscopic surgery to treat his herniated disc. No laser was used in removing the bone. And the herniated disc–the only problem that needed treatment–was not even touched: it was not treated at all and so the patient was not helped by the surgery, though certainly he was harmed.
He was told, of course, that this surgery was done “instead of open surgery.” In reality, it was “open surgery” with more bone and joint damage than most surgeons make in their open surgery.
Avoid Minimally Invasive Hype
“Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery” – This is what every spine surgeon claims to do. Exactly how small is it? Most so called “minimally invasive spine surgery” is actually very traumatic and damaging, from our perspective.
The problem is that “minimally invasive” “has become a trite phrase that has lost its meaning and is used by different authors to describe totally different things” Ref.(1).
Is it bigger than your fingernail, smaller than your fist? There is no specific or standard meaning.
“Micro-discectomy” – a misnomer which sounds small. Actually it is a traumatic access operation requiring a sizeable opening, cutting muscle and typically drilling and cutting bone and joint also.
A microscope is a large device located outside of the body and requires a traumatic opening, large enough to see inside.
“Endoscopic” is also misleading language used in promotional material from other centers, when in fact some of them do a very traumatic access operation requiring a sizeable opening, stretching and tearing muscle, drilling and cutting out bone, ligament and joint also.
The bone, ligament and joint removed is typically completely normal and doing an important job in the spine. Removing it causes permanent damage and may cause permanent symptoms due to this damage (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome).
“Instead of Open Surgery” – can be very misleading language used in promotional material from other centers, when in fact some of them do a very traumatic access sizeable opening, stretching and tearing muscle, drilling and cutting out bone, ligament and commonly joint also.
The bone, ligament and joint removed is typically completely normal and doing an important job in the spine. Removing it causes permanent injury and may cause permanent symptoms due to this trauma (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome). After doing this type of damage, to call it “instead of open surgery” is absurd. This deception is beyond HYPE.
Publications – Peer Reviewed
(All articles have been peer-reviewed. Abstracts were reviewed by the indicated organization and accepted for publication.)
These peer-reviewed publications can be obtained by calling our office at 1-800-956-6724
- Precision Posterior Intradiscal Placement For Lumbar Endoscopic Partial Discectomy Procedures. ASRA NOV. 2019 New Orleans, LA
- Paramedian lumbar endoscopic spinal canal fragmentectomies without bone removal – long term follow-up. EANS Sept. 2019 Dublin, Ireland.
- Endoscopic Discectomy and Reconfiguration at L5-S1 – Long Term Follow-up. ISASS 19th Annual Conference, April 2019. Anaheim, California.
- Nano Endoscopic Approach for Central Lumbar Disc Herniations. The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery in Boca Raton, FL USA | April 12 – April 14, 2017.
- Removal of Disc Fragments from the Lumbar Spinal Canal Without Normal Anatomy Disruption. Spine Summit 2016. The 32nd Annual Meeting of the Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2016. Orlando Florida.
- Paramedian, Zero Trauma Approach Through the Ligamentum Flavum for Extruded Disc Herniations in the Lumbar Spine. Contress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Sep 2015. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Endoscopic Anterior Cervical Discectomy Without Fusion Through a Two Millimeter Opening. The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery Annual Meeting, May 2014. Orlando Florida.
- Non-Traumatic Approach Through the Ligamentum Flavum for Extruded Disc Herniations in the Lumbar Spine. 30th Annual Meeting of the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, Orlando, FL, March 5-8, 2014.
- Book Chapter – Decision Making in Spinal Care – Chapter 61; Copyright 2013 by Thieme
- Successful Unifactorial Treatment of Multifactorial Spinal Stenosis. The Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Annual Meeting. September 2012, Miami, Florida.
- Multifactorial Lumbar Stenosis Treated Successfully with Primary Factor Treatment Only. The 2012 AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerve Annual Meeting , Mar 2012. Orlando Florida.
- “Lumbar Fusion Candidates” Avoid Fusion: Long Term Follow-up. The Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2011 Annual Meeting, Oct 2011.
- NON-TRAUMATIC, TRANS-LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM APPROACH FOR L5/S1 EXTRUDED DISC HERNIATIONS. Annual Meeting of the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, Feb 2010.
- Double Approach Non-traumatic Lumbar Spine Surgery in Central and Paracentral Lumbar Disc Herniations: No Access Surgical Trauma, Better Results and No Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. IITS 2009, Phoenix
- Treatment of central and paracentral lumbar disc herniations with a transforaminal double access non-traumatic discectomy: safe and with better results. WCMISST June 2008
- 7 cases with previous surgeries and free fragments: 100% success with average of 16 weeks follow-up. IITS 2007 France
- “Lumbar Fusion Candidates” Avoid Fusion (Long Term Follow-up). Minimally Invasive Surgery of the Spine 2007, San Diego
- Book Chapter – Decision Making in Spinal Care – Chapter 63; Copyright 2007 by Thieme
- Non-traumatic Transforaminal Endoscopic Approach to the Lumbar Spinal Canal for Removal of Migrated Free Fragments. IITS 2006, Phoenix
- Outpatient Small Non Traumatic Discectomy In L4/5 Lateral Recess Lumbar Disc Herniations: Successful And Surgically Conservative. 2005 March
- Enhanced Discography (Pre-Operative Mapping) A Prelude to Small Guided Non Traumatic Discectomy. IITS 2005, San Diego
- Double Approach Small Non Traumatic Discectomy in L4/L5 and L5/S1 True Central Disc Herniations: No Access Surgical Trauma, Better Results. CNS 2004 San Francisco
- Paramedian Small Endoscopic L5-S1 Discectomy. CNS 2002 Philadelphia
- Preparative Analysis for Precision Lumbar Endoscopic Disc Surgery. CNS 2001 San Diego, California
- Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: Small, Soft Scope Technique. Spine & Peripheral Nerves Section 2001
- IDET and PED: Benefits of Combination Treatment Los Angeles Metropolitan Hospital. Spine & Peripheral Nerves Section 2000
- Paramedian Percutaneous Non Traumatic Discectomy: New Surgical Technique and Initial Clinical Results. CNS 1998 Seattle, Washington
- “Contrast Disc Analysis and Mapping as a Prelude to Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy.” The 14th Annual International Intradiscal Therapy Society Meeting. Phoenix, Arizona. May23-27, 2001.
- IDET and PED: Benefits of Combination Treatment (Joint Section meeting Feb. 2000).
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons abstract compilation.
- “Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Discectomy and Reconfiguration: A Postero-lateral Approach Into The Spinal Canal” Surgical Neurology. Volume 49, Number 6. pp.588-598 June 1998.
- “Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Discectomy and Reconfiguration: A Postero-lateral Approach into the Spinal Canal” Surgical Neurology. Volume 49, Number 6. pp.588-598 June 1998.: sciencedirect.com
- “The Development of Percutaneous Lumbar Endoscopic Microdiscectomy (This Author’s Twelve Year Experience)” The Eleventh Annual International Intradiscal Therapy Society Meeting. San Antonio, Texas. May 1998
- “Endoscopic Transforaminal Percutaneous Discectomy for Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation,” The Tenth Annual International Intradiscal Therapy Society Meeting. Naples, Florida. May 28-31, 1997.
- “True Transforaminal Endoscopic Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy,” The Tenth Annual International Intradiscal Therapy Society Meeting. Naples, Florida. May 28-31, 1997.
- “Non Traumatic Discectomy,” Faculty, International Intradiscal Therapy Society Meeting. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. May 9, 1996.
- “Endoscopic Spinal Surgery,” Invited Faculty (taught seminar), The American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Minneapolis, Minnesota. April 30, 1996. Commended for presenting “the surgery of the future”.
- “Endoscopic Transforaminal Disc Removal and Reconfiguration,” The 12th Annual Meeting of the Joint Section of Congress of Neurological Surgeons and American Association of Neurological Surgeons on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves. Lake Buena Vista, Florida. February 28 – March 2, 1996.
- “Endoscopic Transforaminal Disc Removal and Reconfiguration,” Selected by Joint Section of American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons as best paper for publication.
- “Percutaneous Transforaminal Non Traumatic Discectomy,” North American Spine Society. Washington, D.C. October 18-21, 1995.
- “A New Superior Technique for Removal of Herniated Lumbar Discs,” The Canadian Journal of Neurological Science. Volume 22, Number 2. May 1995.
- “A Safer, Effective Alternative to Laminectomy,” Presentation at International College of Surgeons. San Diego, California. April 1, 1995
- “Comprehensive Percutaneous Endoscopic Spinal Surgery,” Presentation, The American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Orlando, Florida. April, 1995.
- “2.8 mm Endoscopic Comprehensive Percutaneous Lumbar Disc Surgery,” Presentation at International Intradiscal Therapy Society. La Jolla, California. March, 1995. Taught Discectomy Workshop – Faculty – UCSD OrthoMed Facility.
- “A New and Superior Technique for Removal of Herniated Disc: Endoscope and Nucleotome Combination,” Presentation to the Joint Section of The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and The Congress of Neurosurgeons. Phoenix, Arizona. February, 1995.
- “A New Technique for Intra and Extra Discal Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Surgery,” Presentation, Annual Symposium and Call for Papers: Techniques in Spinal Surgery. New York City, New York. December, 1994.
- “Percutaneous Discectomy in the Older Patient (Improved Results with Nucleotome/Laser Enhancement),” Presentation, Seventh Annual Intradiscal Therapy Society Meeting. Aberdeen, Scotland. May, 1994.
- “New Comprehensive Percutaneous Discectomy Using a Working Channel Scope and Nucleotome,” Presentation, Seventh Annual Intradiscal Therapy Society Meeting. Aberdeen, Scotland. May, 1994.
- “Percutaneous Discectomy Over Age Sixty (Nucleotome With Laser Enhancement)” Presentation, Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves (A Joint Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons). Tenth Annual Meeting. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. February, 1994.
- “Percutaneous Discectomy in the Older Patient,” Presentation, Second Annual Symposium, Techniques in Spinal Surgery. New York, New York. December, 1993.
- “Percutaneous Discectomy- Lasers and Fiberoptics,” Continuing Medical Education Lecture, National Scientific Conference, (Westside Hospital). Hawaii. July, 1993.
- “Percutaneous Discectomy- Recent Advances,” Continuing Medical Education Lecture, National Scientific Conference, (Westside Hospital). Hawaii. July, 1992.
- Back Pain and Alternatives to Back Surgery: Percutaneous Discectomy, Lecture Series, Beverly Hills Medical Center, 1989.
- Back Pain and Alternatives to Back Surgery: Percutaneous Discectomy, Lecture Series, Beverly Hills Medical Center, December 1988.
- Arachnoiditis, Presentation, Congress of Neurological Surgeons’ Annual Meeting, October 1980, Houston, Texas.
- Benign Brain Tumor, National Critical Care Inst. Journal, Vol 5, Number 11, Nov. 1978.
- Subdural Hematoma, Chronic, National Critical Care Institute Journal, Volume 5, Number 9, September 1978.
Testimonias
I am a Gastroenterologist from New York, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.I am a Chiropractor from Washington, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
I am a physician from Georgia, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute. A Present time update: 6 years later – perfect result I am a Oral and Facial Surgeon from Delaware, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
I am an ophthalmologist from Florida, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
I am a Dentist from California, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
I am a medical doctor from Canada, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
I am a medical doctor from California and I had my non-traumatic surgery at the Back Institute
I am a M.D. from Canada, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
I am a urologist and also the father of an internist (M.D.) from Washington D.C.
I am a family doctor from Mexico and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute
I am RN from Hawaii and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute
I am a Medical doctor from Iowa and I had non-traumatic neck surgery at the Back Institute
I am M.D. from New York and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute
I am a M.D. from Pennsylvania, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
I am a Dentist from California, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
I am a Surgeon from California and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute
I am a cardiologist from New York and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute
I am a Dentist from Florida, and I had non-traumatic back surgery at the Back Institute.
| Name | State | Type |
| A.S. | Pennsylvania | M.D., Anesthesiologist, University of Pennsylvania |
| C.Y. | Ohio | M.D., Neurology |
| M.D. | Washington D.C. | M.D., Professor, Georgetown |
| A.M. | California | M.D., Surgeon, University of Calif., San Franciso |
| J.W. | Pennsylvania | M.D., Pain Medicine |
| E.F. | Pennsylvania | M.D., (Harvard trained) |
| P.K. | Washington D.C. | Family Medicine |
| R.K. | Mexico | Family Medicine |
| C.D. | South Carolina | Retinal Surgeon |
| B.P. | Utah | D.O., GI specialist |
| A.L. | Florida | M.D., Family Doctor |
| C.P. | Canada | M.D. |
| C.R. | New Jersey | M.D., Cardiologist |
| V.N. | California | Ph D., Faculty member, UCLA. |
| D.S. | Colorado | M.D., Radiation Oncologist (from Stanford) |
| J.B. | Iowa | M.D. |
| V.R. | Kansas | M.D., Neurologist |
| M.T. | California | M.D., General Surgeon |
| O.L. | California | M.D., Plastic Surgeon |
| C.W. | Minnesota | M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon |
| K.L | Arizona | Naturopathic Physician |
| M. F. | Massachusetts | M.D., Professor,Harvard Medical School |
| Y. P. | New Jersey | M.D.,Internal Medicine |
| R. R. | West Indies | M.D.,Cardiologist |
| R. W. | New York | M.D. |
| D. R. | New York | M.D. |
| J. D. | Maryland | M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins Medical School |
| W. P. | New Mexico | M.D. |
| J. H. | Ohio | M.D., Pediatrics |
| P. C. | Quebec, Canada | M.D., General Practice |
| A. N. | Florida | D.C. |
| C. S. | Idaho | D.V.M. |
| G. S. | California | D.C. |
| D. A. | Virginia | Emergency Room M.D. |
| T. S. | Virginia | M.D. |
| A. P. | New jersey | M.D. |
