*United Health Care has named the Beth Israel Medical Center Spine Institute a Premium Specialty Center for Spine Surgery for 2007-2008, recognizing our leadership in quality spine care. This designation means the Beth Israel Spine Institute meets or exceeds the recognized standards of care for spine surgery---an acknowledgment that we’re a hospital you can choose with confidence.

Andrew M. Casden, MD
Paul L. Kuflik, MD
Michael G. Neuwirth, MD; Chief

Made of 33 vertebrae in three distinct sections (cervical, thoracic, lumbar), the spine must be mobile (to bend and twist) yet stable (to remain upright). Either through age, improper lifting techniques or through trauma, millions of Americans develop spine disorders in their lifetime, some of them very debilitating. If you need a spine surgeon in Manhattan or the New York City area, The Spine Institute of New York at Beth Israel Medical Center specializes in the treatment of congenital, chronic or acute spinal disorders in adults and children.

Some examples of conditions we treat at the Spine Institute are: back pain from strains and sprains, herniated discs and other disc problems, scoliosis, kyphosis, traumatic injuries, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, spinal deformities, and spinal tumors. To pinpoint the exact cause and location of back and spine pain, our experts use the most technologically advanced equipment for accurate diagnosis.

When surgery is necessary
Spine Institute surgeons often favor non-invasive treatment by working with a team of physiatrists (physical medicine specialists), physical and occupational therapists, neurologists, and pain medicine specialists. Nevertheless, when surgical intervention is appropriate, our surgeons use their extensive experience and constant pursuit of new techniques to promote the best outcomes. Procedures include:

• Discectomies. A common operation for sciatica, which removes part of a herniated disc. This is often an outpatient procedure with today's minimally invasive techniques.
• Laminectomy. Often performed for spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), this procedure removes part of the vertebrae to relieve pressure on irritated nerves, and sometimes part of the facet joints and discs as well.
• Spinal fusion. Fusion reduces the motion of the spine-and pain-by immobilizing the area causing back problems. It can also be done to correct scoliosis or other spinal deformities.
• Scoliosis surgery. Metal rods can be surgically implanted to straighten the affected spine's abnormal curvature and relieve pain and other symptoms.
• Tumor removal. Some of the bone may be removed and perhaps rebuilt with a bone graft or metal.
• Kyphoplasty. Successfully used to treat fractures due to osteoporosis, this minimally invasive technique injects a cement-like substance into the vertebrae to strengthen them and relieve pain.
• Disc replacement. This type of procedure replaces an injured or degenerated disc, as an alternative to spinal fusion in select cases.

Prestigious research efforts
Our spine surgeons participate actively in research organizations. We were the only site in New York (and one of only 12 in the country) to conduct a Phase I trial of disc replacement surgery. Beth Israel is also one of only 30 sites worldwide to evaluate various scoliosis interventions.

Spine Physiatry
Eugene Bulkin, MD
Stuart B. Kahn, MD
Alexander Lee, MD

Because spine problems often demand sophisticated diagnoses, as well as physical therapy and pain management approaches, the Spine Institute at Beth Israel depends on close alliances with other disciplines, especially with physiatrists (physical medicine specialists).

These physical medicine specialists perform much of the non-operative and pain management treatments for conditions such as acute herniated discs or degenerative spinal arthritis. Simpler interventions include intermuscular or ligament trigger injections to relieve pain. Traditional epidural injections target generalized areas to treat pain due to sciatica, pinched nerves or spinal stenosis.

Using state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques, physiatrists can determine which joints, nerves or discs are causing pain, and can more specifically locate the site and level of pain.

For a referral to the Spine Institute at Beth Israel, call our Physician Referral Service at 1-888-244-3257.