LEAWOOD, Ks. — Not all patients with acute or chronic neck or back pain need surgery – and some have had surgery but need interventional procedures as part of their post-operative care plans. That’s why the comprehensive care model at Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute includes interventional spine and pain management with two board-certified, fellowship-trained physiatrists at the helm.
This month, Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute will celebrate the first anniversary of its new Interventional Spine and Pain Management Suite. The hospital has offered interventional spine procedures for years, but the services received an upgrade last spring when the ribbon was cut on a dedicated interventional spine suite, complete with six patient examination rooms and two procedure rooms.
“Most of the patients we see in the interventional spine suite have acute or long-term neck pain, back pain, sciatic pain, or compression fractures,” said C. Lan Fotopoulos, M.D., interventional physiatrist. “We also treat people who experience prolonged neck or back pain after surgery, including post-laminectomy syndrome.” Procedures most commonly performed in the Interventional Spine Suite include vertebroplasty, balloon assisted kyphoplasty, spinal cord stimulation, radiofrequency ablation and epidural injections.
The new suite provides a more private setting for patients. “It’s been really nice, and we’ve gotten great feedback from patients as well,” said Fermin Santos, M.D., interventional physiatrist. “Before, we performed interventional procedures in the hospital, so patients saw other people get wheeled back to the O.R. and come back from surgery.” Now, he says, they are away from that surgical environment, and patients find it more relaxing.
The interventional spine and pain management suite is not just for patients with neck and back pain. The physiatrists also perform procedures for certain patients with knee pain, hip pain and even headaches that have not responded to other forms of conservative treatment.
Drs. Fotopoulos and Santos coordinate care as needed with physical therapists and other providers to ensure their patients get the appropriate care. The hospital’s onsite MRI and digital X-ray often enable same-day results and diagnosis, and the doctors routinely consult with orthopedic surgeons as needed to ensure high quality outcomes.
“All our orthopedic specialists are here in the same building, so if we ever have questions or concerns, we can consult the surgeons directly to determine the best course of treatment,” said Dr. Santos, adding that their physician team at Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute includes a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon. “When necessary, we will refer patients to surgery, but our goal as interventional physiatrists is to exhaust all conservative treatment options first.”
New patients can call 913-319-7633 for an appointment. Patients with workers compensation cases and sports-related injuries are also welcome.
About Interventional Physiatry at Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute
Physiatry, also known as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, focuses on relieving pain, restoring function and improving mobility through nonsurgical treatment methods. The physiatrists of Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute are board-certified nerve, muscle and bone experts who treat a variety of painful conditions, including many sports injuries.
