Dr. Sean McCance - NYC Orthopedic Spine Surgeons' Blog

Sarah Cohn: “Practice Yoga While You Play Golf”

Nearly six months ago, I performed a revision surgery on patient Sarah Cohn for an Anterior-Posterior Revision Lumbar Fusion for Spondylolisthesis, after she received a failed minimally invasive spine decompression surgery at another practice. Following the revision surgery, Sarah, an avid golfer and yoga enthusiast, recovered quickly and was able to return to her athletic passions. Sarah can play golf again and stretches during rounds with simple yoga. I was touched to not only receive a copy of her book Practice Yoga While You Play Golf but also to be nominated by her for the Mount Sinai Medical Center “Honor Your Doctor” award. Most importantly, I was fascinated by Sarah’s unique fusion of golf and yoga and wanted to share with my readers and patients. You can visit her website at SarahCohnYoga.com and purchase her book here. Read below to see what Sarah had to say about her experience! Q: How did you discover Dr. McCance, and how would you describe your experience with him? A: I was referred to Dr. McCance by a pain management doctor who really wasn’t able to help me. I needed a spinal fusion and Dr. McCance made the process seem less terrifying, plus he spent plenty

May 21, 2013

Herniated Disc of the Lumbar Spine (Part II)

Last week, I posted about herniated discs in the cervical spine (or neck), but herniated discs can also occur in the lumbar spine (low back). Often times, patients suffering from a herniated disc in the lumbar spine are in the 30 – 40 year old age range. Many of the patients that I treat have injured their back from sporting or lifting incidents, but sometimes the injury occurs just from routine activities like bending over to pick up an object on the floor. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, low back pain affects four out of five people; therefore a herniated disc in the lumbar spine can go unnoticed. It is especially important for patients to visit their doctor or a specialist if their low back pain persists longer than 2 weeks or starts to radiate down the leg. Although pain is the first and most noticeable symptom of a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, the severity of the pain depends on which disc is injured and the extent of the herniation. In some cases, the pain may spread over the buttocks, down the back of the thigh and into the calf. The pain may be in one leg

May 14, 2013

Herniated Disc of the Cervical Spine (Part I)

Have you ever heard someone complaining of pain from a “slipped disc?” If so, they are referring to a herniated disc. Discs can bulge when they lose water content, making the disc flatter with less cushioning. When a disc becomes too weak and begins to bulge, it puts pressure on the surrounding nerves. This pressure can cause nerve pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. Herniated discs can occur in the cervical spine (neck) or in the lumbar spine (lower back). Today, I will share my experience with patients who have a herniated disc in the cervical spine. This condition can occur without any obvious cause or injury. Some of the risk factors include: trauma, an accident or sudden twisting, a repeated or sudden strain on the back (as from lifting a heavy weight) or certain jobs that require heavy lifting. Some people are at a higher risk for this condition, but how do you know when you have actually hurt yourself? Symptoms of a herniated disc in the cervical spine include: Sudden neck or shoulder pain that travels down your arms Numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both arms In some cases, weakness in legs, loss of balance, partial or

May 7, 2013

Lower Back Pain: Strains

Have you recently moved, cleaned or performed a series of lifting and are experiencing lower back pain, as a result? Dr. Louis Bisogni featured me on his television show Healthy Frontiers, and here I discuss strains of the lower back and why these can be extremely painful. Watch below, and leave me any questions or comments:

May 3, 2013

Neck (Cervical Spine) Fracture

I have treated numerous patients suffering from neck fractures, and each injury is different from the next. A neck fracture can happen for many different reasons. Common causes include falls, collisions, diving into shallow water, sudden twists to the neck or severe blows to the head and neck area. The first thing I do with an injured patient is assess the severity of the injury. Is it associated with dislocation or instability? Which cervical bones are broken? Is there a spinal cord or nerve injury? This information helps me determine the best option for treatment. Common treatment options include immobilization, bracing and surgery. Immobilization is safest immediate option at the accident scene, when there is a possibility of a broken neck, as it minimizes or prevents further spinal cord injury. Bracing is recommended as ongoing treatment for minor or stable fractures, when allowing the neck to become more stable. A neck brace or collar is often worn until the neck completely heals, usually lasting between 8 – 12 weeks. Certain exercises are often used for a fractured neck that will strengthen and stretch the muscles supporting the cervical vertebrae. This is essential for proper recovery, and is often done with

April 30, 2013

Healthy Frontiers

Last year, I was lucky enough to be featured on Healthy Frontiers, a television show hosted by Dr. Louis Bisogni, where I was able to discuss a variety of topics that pertain to spinal health and my patients’ well-being. On my blog, we will feature a new segment every Friday. In this particular segment, we examine the “normal spine.”

April 26, 2013

Cervical Spinal Fusion vs. Disc Replacement Surgery

Many of my patients first visit my practice with complaints of neck and arm pain, caused by a herniated disc. Although most episodes of neck pain are temporary, some patients experience chronic pain that ultimately requires surgery. Depending on the patient’s level of discomfort, there are two surgical options, cervical spinal fusion and disk replacement. When cervical spinal fusion surgery is performed, the affected bones in the neck are “fused” together using bone graft material with a plate and cage, so they can heal into one healthy bone. Bone grafts can be taken from a patient’s pelvic bone, or cadaver and synthetic bone are also options. Depending on the type of herniated disc and spinal stability, the spinal surgeon will determine the best method for surgery. These methods are anterior fusion, where the spine is operated on from the front, and posterior fusion, where the spine is operated on from the back. After cervical spinal fusion surgery, surgeons sometimes recommend wearing a brace to support the fusion progress. This is more important after a multi-level fusion. Maturation of the fusion can take up to 12 weeks. It is important for patients to limit their physical activity level and allow the

April 23, 2013

Jarvis Jones – Spinal Stenosis

I see patients in my practice with conditions ranging from neck and lower back pain to spinal fractures. From one patient to the next, the injury is never the same. This is most certainly the case with spinal stenosis, a condition that I often see and treat. Let’s start with what spinal stenosis is. It is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can occur anywhere along the length of the spine. The symptoms depend on what part of the spinal cord or nerve roots that are affected. Although spinal stenosis is more common in older patients due to the natural aging process, some people are born with a narrow spinal canal that lead to symptoms at a younger age. There are also patients who suffer from spinal stenosis because of other factors, such as trauma, which is common in athletes after sports-related injuries. With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, there’s a lot of conversation surrounding individual players. Conversations run the gamut of athletic strengths and weaknesses to individual character and football IQ. Injuries are a hot topic, as the media always wants to find a player’s weakness. Spinal injuries are always highlighted, as they are categorized as huge disadvantages.

April 16, 2013

All-Terrain Vehicle-Related Spinal Injuries on the Rise in Children and Adolescents

Emergency room visits, specifically spinal cord injuries, are becoming increasingly prevalent amongst children and adolescents. Unfortunately, this increase is occurring from those who use all-terrain vehicles, otherwise known as ATVs. For those of you who are unfamiliar, ATVs are 3 or 4-wheeled motorized vehicles that weigh up to 800 pounds and are popularly used for recreation. Although ATVs are not common on the streets of Manhattan, I am very familiar with the damage they create. There are thousands of ATV-related injuries amongst children and adolescents each year and reports of children as young as eight being treated for an ATV-related injury in an emergency room. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are approximately 2.2 million ATV riders under the age of 16. Countless medical organizations and physicians including myself have recommended that ATVs not be operated by anyone under the age of 16, but legally there is no way to prohibit usage. ATVs have a tendency to flip, making it especially easy for children to sustain spinal fractures from the impact. A study published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics reinforces their danger, “The injury rate for children from ATV accidents has increased 240% since 1997” and

April 9, 2013

Scoliosis: When is Surgery Required?

Patients frequently come into my practice with the notion that surgery is the best cure to their scoliosis pain. How do you know that’s the best course of action? Well, that’s my job. Surgical decision making for scoliosis is multi-factorial, and we assess many different parameters in coming to the right decision for each patient. The Scoliosis Research Society estimates that approximately 1 in 40, or 7 million people are affected by scoliosis in the United States alone, making it an extremely prevalent condition. Unfortunately it most often develops in children, particularly female adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15. To properly cure scoliosis, the treatment must match the source of the problem. Here are some of the main factors I consider when discussing if surgery is right for a patient with scoliosis: Degree: How large is the curve measurement? Spinal Maturity: Is the spine still growing? Location: Do you have a thoracic (upper spine) curve, a thoracolumbar (middle spine) curve or lumbar (lower spine) curve? Progression: Is the curve likely to worsen? Is the curve painful? What is your age and medical condition? Has there been prior surgery? Do you have osteoporosis? My recommendation for surgery is based

April 2, 2013

More Content | Blog