Disc-fx

[epidural man]

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Saw an add in PainMed news and then saw an old thread in the physician forum.

Any updates? Anybody using this?

 

[pmrmd]

I think I’d rather do Intracept then PRP before considering this thing.

 

[BobBarker]

I had a rep approach me about it. It is basically doing a discectomy.

 

[jsaul]

i did a lot of those from about 2013 to 2016. they worked well on the suggested recommended patients. the problem is getting paid appropriately for this

 

[clubdeac]

Check out Atlantapain’s instagram. He does 100’s of these. His favorite thing is multilevel cervical discectomies. Not sure how this doesn’t border on the level of malpractice

 

[RoloTomassi]

Check out Atlantapain’s instagram. He does 100’s of these. His favorite thing is multilevel cervical discectomies. Not sure how this doesn’t border on the level of malpractice

Looks like facet fusions are his new toy

 

[Magnus Acus]

Endoscopic Spine Fellowship » Department of Anesthesiology » College of Medicine » University of Florida

Fellowship Goals The main goal of the Endoscopic Spine Fellowship is to provide comprehensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic spinal pathologies. This training will include patient care, research (if applicable) and education. Additional Aims To Apply Physicians...

anest.ufl.edu

I was just at ASRA and Disc Fx was there, I was asking how people get properly trained for this. They name dropped this guy. Seems to me that additional fellowship would be helpful in vetting people that are qualified to do these endoscopic procedures, although there will always be people overstepping their boundaries.
Group thoughts on whether something like this is a step in the right/wrong direction?

 

[Ferrismonk]

Endoscopic Spine Fellowship » Department of Anesthesiology » College of Medicine » University of Florida

Fellowship Goals The main goal of the Endoscopic Spine Fellowship is to provide comprehensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic spinal pathologies. This training will include patient care, research (if applicable) and education. Additional Aims To Apply Physicians...

anest.ufl.edu

I was just at ASRA and Disc Fx was there, I was asking how people get properly trained for this. They name dropped this guy. Seems to me that additional fellowship would be helpful in vetting people that are qualified to do these endoscopic procedures, although there will always be people overstepping their boundaries.
Group thoughts on whether something like this is a step in the right/wrong direction?

Honestly, I think it's the right direction. However, I'm a realist and realize that the national trend is just the opposite direction. I would not be surprised if CRNAs are doing these somewhere with NP/PA/ND/DC to soon follow.

 

[Espn123]

Definitely need to refine the training pathway for this

 

[Magnus Acus]

Honestly, I think it's the right direction. However, I'm a realist and realize that the national trend is just the opposite direction. I would not be surprised if CRNAs are doing these somewhere with NP/PA/ND/DC to soon follow.

Supposedly, according to the description on the website, this fellowship is designed for ACGME accredited IPM docs who are already “well versed in surgical techniques.”

To your point though, I’m not sure who accredits the fellowship directors. Even if fellowships in endoscopic spine become a thing I imagine there will be a lot of variation in competence among programs

 

[swamprat]

Check out Atlantapain’s instagram. He does 100’s of these. His favorite thing is multilevel cervical discectomies. Not sure how this doesn’t border on the level of malpractice

You need to look up the definition of malpractice.

Anyway I do a ton of these in lumbar - they are not difficult and results are fantastic. Patient selection as is everything else is key. You must also understand spine anatomy and be good a driving a needle under flouro.

 

[clubdeac]

You need to look up the definition of malpractice.

Anyway I do a ton of these in lumbar - they are not difficult and results are fantastic. Patient selection as is everything else is key. You must also understand spine anatomy and be good a driving a needle under flouro.

Yes I used to do these in the lumbar spine using the Stryker decompressor system 10 years ago. I would argue that a 3-4 level perc disc in the neck is excessive, not indicated and may likely lead to accelerated damage and degeneration in the future causing more harm than good - bordering malpractice

 

[lobelsteve]

You need to look up the definition of malpractice.

Anyway I do a ton of these in lumbar - they are not difficult and results are fantastic. Patient selection as is everything else is key. You must also understand spine anatomy and be good a driving a needle under flouro.

I take this to mean you are getting paid by WC. Not that there is clinical improvement.

 

[TIVAndy]

Check out Atlantapain’s instagram. He does 100’s of these. His favorite thing is multilevel cervical discectomies. Not sure how this doesn’t border on the level of malpractice

Those discs look pretty plump

 

[swamprat]

Yes I used to do these in the lumbar spine using the Stryker decompressor system 10 years ago. I would argue that a 3-4 level perc disc in the neck is excessive, not indicated and may likely lead to accelerated damage and degeneration in the future causing more harm than good - bordering malpractice

Ok that’s fair lol

 

[swamprat]

I take this to mean you are getting paid by WC. Not that there is clinical improvement.

I have video testimonials of happy patients - patient selection is key again. Contained herniation that correlates with patients leg pain it is a home run. If there is extrusion, loss of disc height or collapse it won’t work they need either an endoscope or more likely a cage. As far as pay goes SCS in office trials still win for me unless it’s a PI case 😆

 

[Vie221]

Supposedly, according to the description on the website, this fellowship is designed for ACGME accredited IPM docs who are already “well versed in surgical techniques.”

To your point though, I’m not sure who accredits the fellowship directors. Even if fellowships in endoscopic spine become a thing I imagine there will be a lot of variation in competence among programs

I know the history of this program and the director. It is very legit. It has the full backing of the neurosurgery and anesthesiology departments. I do not believe they do any thoracic of cervical cases.