Kyphoplasty during fellowship

[futureSuperStar]

If one were to do a pain fellowship at an ACGME accredited program in a big city (NYC or LA for example), would kyphoplasty be part of the training? Its hard to tell as it seems like a significant portion of pain physicians do not perform them or at least do not advertise whether they perform them.

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[afob100]

Highly dependent on the specific program. Programs I interviewed at did from 0 to ~20-30 kyphos per fellow. Most programs were 0-5/fellow. Many places have IR doing them, but I could be wrong.

 

[deleted284725]

I did a bunch in residency but most were with an IR attending who we’d work with. And it was pretty variable how much he’d let us do depending on the schedule.

 

[fathead88]

I just finished fellowship and did about 10. Between you and a competent rep that’s enough to do them out in the world.

 

[RoloTomassi]

If you want more hands-on experience, reach out to all the kypho companies. They'll get you into cadaver labs. The technique is straightforward, it's more important to know all the pitfalls, potential complications, how to manage them. That's all in the literature.

 

[paindoc007]

If one were to do a pain fellowship at an ACGME accredited program in a big city (NYC or LA for example), would kyphoplasty be part of the training? Its hard to tell as it seems like a significant portion of pain physicians do not perform them or at least do not advertise whether they perform them.

No. Most likely not

 

[Orin]

If one were to do a pain fellowship at an ACGME accredited program in a big city (NYC or LA for example), would kyphoplasty be part of the training? Its hard to tell as it seems like a significant portion of pain physicians do not perform them or at least do not advertise whether they perform them.

You don't need that exposure, but if you rank appropriately, then it should happen. Programs will tell you if they do vertebral augmentation when you interview or you can find out before you apply/interview.

Politics drive practice in academic places, but in a lot of high quality programs, you'll get exposure to enough to get credentialed. It is also something you can learn through cadaver labs and slowly work through with solid device reps.

 

[futureSuperStar]

Appreciate the responses. Sounds like if I seek it getting the training won't be a huge issue. However at large academic places there's no guarantee that I can perform them?

 

[BobBarker]

It can be variable. I heard the fellow that just graduated from my program didn’t do any or did very few. I did over 40. Just depends on the faculty and politics that can change at a moments notice.

but take the time, push for it, etc to get some exposure. It has always been a huge part of my practice.

 

[mid|ine]

I did over 100 levels in my fellowship year, but did them with IR.

I haven't done one in years though. Its hard to get them consistently enough to make them work in the schedule.

 

[BobBarker]

I did over 100 levels in my fellowship year, but did them with IR.

I haven't done one in years though. Its hard to get them consistently enough to make them work in the schedule.

Do them in your office.

 

[lobelsteve]

I did one by myself in fellowship. Learned at courses. Taught at courses. Have done 15 in last 2 months. Epidemic induced osteoporosis.

 

[mid|ine]

Do them in your office.

The logistics have proven to be difficult. Our procedure suite stays busy and its not a routine procedure for our office (or me anymore). No sense in going to the hospital to do them. I let our neurosurgeon have them....