Meriter Spine Program

Our surgeons prefer non-surgical solutions. If surgery is the right approach, our team of physicians has skills in the latest techniques to effectively correct spine problems. Meriter is privileged to have primary affiliations with an impressive collection of orthopedic specialists from three separate groups:

Please visit these physicians' Web sites to learn about their areas of expertise. In addition, we work with independent pain management physicians. Our service areas are described below.

Spine Care for Back Pain and Dysfunction

Eight out of ten Americans will experience a lifestyle-altering episode of back pain at some point in their lives. Meriter's Spine Program offers services aimed at restoring health and reducing symptoms for persons with spinal pain and dysfunction. This program focuses on:

It is our practice to exhaust every appropriate treatment option before considering surgery. However, if a surgical procedure becomes the right choice, our team of specialists is trained to effectively correct a variety of problems related to:

Advanced surgical techniques such as microscopic spine surgery provide less invasive surgical options that help speed recovery, reduce pain and improve functioning.

Disc Replacement Surgery

Lumbar fusion – surgically fusing two or more vertebrae together – has been the traditional treatment for people with chronic low back pain from degenerative disc disease. While that procedure stops the pain, fusion restricts movement in the problem area, and it creates greater strain on the healthy spinal segments above and below.

Patients are now having excellent results from an alternative to spinal fusion, which has been available in Europe for more than 17 years, and recently received FDA approval. Disc replacement surgery is performed at Meriter Hospital through a joint program of UW Health Neurosurgery and Orthopedics. The artificial disk is arranged like a sandwich with a polyethylene (very hard plastic) core between two metal endplates. The device is shaped so the endplates pivot in a way that imitates the normal motion of the two vertebrae.

Orthopedic surgeon Craig Dopf, MD, explains, "Discs wear out as a natural part of aging and from stress and strain. This procedure effectively addresses the chronic and debilitating pain found when discs in the lower back fail. Disc replacement theoretically saves adjacent levels of the spine by not immobilizing one level and forcing adjacent levels to support the resulting stresses."

Neurosurgeon John Sandin, MD, says that the surgery is performed from the front of the body through a small incision near the naval, and adds, "Because the incision is so small, patients recover quickly after the surgery. They are often up walking within a few hours, and most spend only a night or two in the hospital. Most are back to work in three or four weeks."

Emergency Care

Meriter Emergency Services plays an important role in Meriter's Spine Program. Each year we treat thousands of individuals with spine injuries that require immediate attention. We have developed our after hours "Fast Track" program to direct patients with problems that are not life threatening to a separate care team. This allows us to treat patients in a reasonable timeframe, and refer patients to appropriate services. We are proud of the reputation we have built, and we are committed to continue providing outstanding emergency care within the community.

Rehabilitation Services

Meriter provides a variety of rehabilitation services on an outpatient and inpatient basis. These services include:

Our staff works with each patient to restore strength, motion and flexibility while reducing pain. We strive to maximize independence and function for each patient. Our physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians work with primary care physicians in assessing the best care options related to spine injuries and conditions.

We actively involve patients in their treatment planning. Education emphasizing healthy movement is a key element of our services. Many of our staff have specialized training in spine diagnosis and treatment methods such as McKenzie, manual therapy, strength and conditioning, athletic training and women's health.

Work-related Injury Management

Meriter's Return to Work program is an evaluation and rehabilitation service for individuals who are injured on the job or whose personal injury affects their ability to work. The program also offers a full array of ergonomic and prevention services. Our team works closely with physicians and employers to follow carefully coordinated evaluation and treatment protocols, enabling our patients to return to work as quickly and safely as possible. Our staff physical therapists specialize in industrial rehabilitation. Our therapists hold certifications in athletic training, strength and conditioning, and work capacity evaluation techniques.

The Return to Work program is located at 1765 Thierer Road in Madison. For information, call (608) 417-8094. For driving directions and a map, please visit the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation section.

5/3/2007