The cases illustrated below are actual surgeries performed by Dr. Sean McCance on patients with various spine conditions. The results shown are specific to that patient, and may not apply to other cases with a similar condition.
*Note: click on the image to view a larger version.
Lumbar Herniated Disc
A 55-year-old male presented with severe nerve pain in the right leg with numbness and tingling. He underwent a microdiscectomy which relieved all of his symptoms. He is now living pain free. The MRI on the left shows a herniated disc fragment against the nerve in the spinal canal. The post-operative MRI on the right shows the disc fragment is gone.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Cervical Herniated Disc / Cervical Myelopathy
This 67-year-old male had a history of numbness and weakness in both hands. He experienced difficulty with fine hand coordination, such as writing, buttoning shirts, and picking up pills. The first MRI shown above was taken on February 21, 2013, revealing a flattening of the spinal cord with swelling. On April 3, 2013, an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) was performed to correct his cord compression. The x-ray on the right shows the procedure. He has had an excellent return of hand function and resolution of the numbness.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Lumbar Stenosis
This 72-year-old male suffered from worsening pain in both of his legs. He experienced this pain when walking any distance or standing for any length of time, and was only granted relief if he sat or lay down. As a result, he began to use a wheelchair when visiting museums and airports. The first MRI, above on the left, shows the narrowing of the spinal canal. The post-operative MRI on the right shows the results of his successful lumbar laminectomy, with good decompression of the spinal canal. He can now walk long distances without pain.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Lower Back Pain – Degenerative Disc Disease
This 52-year-old woman had a long history of debilitating back pain, causing her to go to the emergency room every two to three months. In an attempt to alleviate her pain, she stopped all physical activities, including exercise and travel. Despite various non-surgical treatments, her condition continued to worsen. Her MRI, above on the left, was taken on September 16, 2013, and reveals degeneration of the lower 3 discs. A 3-level lumbar fusion (L3-S1) was performed on December 9, 2013. She has had an excellent reduction in her pain and is now enjoying a much more active lifestyle. Her post-operative x-ray, taken February 2, 2014, appears above on the right.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Spondylolisthesis in Adolescence
These are the images of a 13-year-old male with a history of chronic lower back pain and leg pain. Over a period of two months, his condition worsened and became severe. This inhibited his participation in sports, and even playing outside with friends. The MRI on the left, taken March 11, 2011, shows severe displacement of the L5 vertebra, sliding forward onto the sacrum. On March 21, 2011, he underwent an L4 to Pelvis lumbar fusion to alleviate his pain. The post-operative x-ray on the right shows correction and stabilization of the deformity. He has been able to return to an active life, which includes snowboarding, horseback riding, and mountain climbing.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Adolescent Scoliosis
The x-ray on the left shows a 53 degree T10-L4 curvature and 48 degree T4-T10 curvature in this 15-year-old female, who suffered from back pain and postural disturbance. She underwent surgery in June 2014, and the x-ray on the right shows excellent correction down to 10 degrees, an 82% correction. She is now standing straight and tall with no pain.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Adult Scoliosis
This 60-year-old woman suffered from extreme back pain and numbness in her left leg. Her discomfort was so severe that she had become housebound. She had undergone a prior fusion in the past. Her first x-ray taken on February 4, 2014, shows an unstable tilted vertebra and scoliosis above her previous fusion (arrow). An anterior and posterior L3-4 fusion was performed to remedy this. The correction is visible in her post-operative x-ray, taken on March 4, 2014. She has since enjoyed excellent symptom reduction and is now fully active.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Cervical Fracture – Dislocation
This 30 year old woman suffered a cervical (neck) fracture as a result of a car accident. Before the operation, she experienced neck pain as well as numbness and weakness in her right arm. The first x-ray was taken prior to her surgery on May 11, 2012, revealing a displaced and fractured vertebra (arrow). She underwent an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to stabilize her neck, which gave her complete relief of the neck and arm pain. The post-operative x-ray one year later shows excellent alignment and stability.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Lumbar Fracture
This 55-year-old woman experienced an L4 burst fracture and severe nerve compression as the result of a high-speed car accident. Her pre-operative x-ray on the left shows the compressed and fractured vertebra. Before surgery, she could not stand or walk. She underwent an anterior-posterior fusion with removal of the broken vertebra, which was replaced by a cage, seen in the x-ray on the right. She is now fully active and pain-free.
Pre-Op
Post-OP
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Revision Surgery: Repair of Failed Back Surgery
These are the x-rays of a 61-year-old woman who had undergone a prior lumbar fusion, done at another facility. Following that surgery, she suffered from severe lower back pain and forward flexed posture. The initial fusion did not heal, causing a loosening of the screws, and an unstable spine with forward bending. A little over a year later, we performed an extensive anterior-posterior reconstruction, which stabilized her back and restored her posture. She has experienced significant symptom reduction.
Pre-Op
Post-Op
The cases shown above are the results of spine surgery for different spine diagnoses. The results shown are specific to that case, and may not apply to other cases with similar diagnoses.
Our best in class, Upper East Side, NYC back & neck pain diagnosis & surgery practice, Spine Associates, is honored to provide you with highly personalized and comprehensive care. Our philosophy of direct management of your case by an expert spine surgeon has made us one of the most trusted and respected spine surgery practices on the Upper East Side in NYC and the world. Feel free to contact the back & neck pain diagnosis and spine surgery specialist today to discuss your unique condition and start yourself on the road to recovery.
Dr. Sean McCance
1155 Park Avenue, Suite E
New York, NY 10128
(212) 360-6500