Back Pain

Vertebral augmentation for degenerative disc disease has traditionally been performed using cement injections. However, new biomaterials are emerging that may offer more precise targeting of the vertebral discs, potentially leading to higher patient satisfaction. In this episode of Backtable MSK, Dr. Olivier Clerk-Lamalice discusses significant advances in the treatment of degenerative disc disease, with a particular focus on disc augmentation using intradiscal hydrogel. This episode marks the third and final installment in our series on degenerative disc disease with Dr. Clerk-Lamalice.

Degenerative disc disease, a major cause of low back pain, is the most common musculoskeletal issue worldwide, affecting an estimated 15-30% of the population. In this episode of BackTable MSK, interventional radiologists Dr. Olivier Clerk-Lamalice and Dr. Jacob Fleming cover symptomatic degenerative disc disease, focusing on its diagnosis and treatment with anesthetic injections. This is the first episode in a two-part series on discogenic back pain.

The lumbar discogram is a cornerstone of musculoskeletal (MSK) radiology, as it enables interventionalists to pinpoint the exact level of discogenic back pain. In this episode of Backtable MSK, the Dr. Olivier Clerk-Lamalice and host Dr. Jacob Fleming explore the techniques and applications of the discogram, a procedure highly valued for its effectiveness in both diagnosis and pain management.

How are orthobiologics transforming the back pain treatment algorithm? In this episode of BackTable MSK, host Jacob Fleming is joined by Dr. Guilherme Ferreira Dos Santos to discuss the management of lumbar pain and the role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Dr. Santos is trained in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation as well as Interventional Pain Medicine, and currently practices at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona.

More often than not, a surgical innovation is not the result of an overnight success, but rather the result of iterative improvements on a tool or technique that leads to better outcomes. In this episode of the BackTable MSK Podcast, we interview Dr. Jim Marino, a retired orthopedic surgeon and prolific medtech innovator. Dr. Marino gives us an inside look at his extensive career, detailing his role in orthopedic device innovation and the trials and tribulations that he faced along the way.

Cervical and thoracic epidural steroid injections (ESIs) can offer relief for patients with chronic pain; however, these procedures can carry serious risks. Providers should be well-trained to anticipate and mitigate these risks before treating patients with ESIs. In this episode of the Backtable MSK Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Chris Beck and Dr. Jacob Fleming dive deep into various techniques and considerations for performing ESIs.

An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive technique used to treat back pain. Providers from various specialties and settings can learn and offer this procedure. In this episode of the Back Table MSK Podcast, hosts Jacob Fleming and Chris Beck share their experiences and techniques for performing ESIs.

Dr. Jacob Fleming and Dr. Douglas Beall dive into the intricacies of sacroplasty, including considerations for selecting cement volume, efficacy of small versus large needles, and biomechanics of the pelvis.

In this episode of the BackTable MSK Podcast, Dr. Jacob Fleming and Dr. Douglas Beall discuss the challenges and advancements in treating sacral insufficiency fractures (SIF), the importance of real-world data in evaluating treatment efficacy, and the need to increase awareness of sacral fractures and sacroplasty.

In this episode of the BackTable MSK Podcast, Dr. Dana Dunleavy interviews Dr. David Prologo about his perspective on current advancements in MSK interventions, including steerable spine needles, thermocouples for radiofrequency ablation, and the growing importance of advocacy and longitudinal follow up for patients with chronic pain. Dr. Prologo is an interventional radiologist at Emory University.

In this episode of the Back Table MSK Podcast, guest host and interventional radiologist Dr. Dana Dunleavy speaks with Dr. Majid Khan about building an academic interventional spine program and the need for nonvascular spine intervention fellowships. Dr. Khan is neuroradiologist and Director of Non-Vascular Spine Intervention at Johns Hopkins University.

In this BackTable MSK episode, Dr. Jacob Fleming speaks with Dr. Joshua Hirsch about the current state of spinal interventional radiology. Dr. Hirsch is an interventional neuroradiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In this BackTable MSK episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming discusses the future of musculoskeletal radiology with Dr. Glade Roper of VIP Specialists in Visalia, California. Dr. Roper is an MSK radiologist who specializes in minimally invasive procedures.

We talk with interventional radiologist Dr. David Prologo about minimally invasive pain interventions, multidisciplinary pain management, and how he built a successful pain practice.

In this episode, Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Alok Sharan about low back awake spinal surgery. This innovative approach offers patients a more pleasant surgical experience compared to traditional surgery under general anesthesia. Not only does it provide better patient outcomes, but it also reduces the need for opioid pain medication and allows for improved mobility after the procedure.

In this episode, Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Olivier Clerk-Lamalice about basivertebral nerve ablation for vertebrogenic back pain, including indications, procedure technique and exciting tech on the horizon in minimally invasive spine interventions.

In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Luigi Manfrè, spine interventional neuroradiologist and chair of the European Society of Neuroradiology about treatment of spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis using interspinous fusion spacers.

In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Luigi Manfrè, interventional radiologist and chair of the European Society of Neuroradiology about how he treats lumbar spinal stenosis using spinoplasty and minimally invasive placement of interspinous spacers.

In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Edward Yoon, interventional MSK radiologist and Chief of IR at the Hospital for Special Surgery. The doctors discuss novel intradiscal therapies to treat anterior column pain, as well as where the field of spine interventions is heading.

Jacob Fleming interviews interventional pain specialist and former Super Bowl champion John S. Michels about his journey into the subspecialty, pathways for getting involved in interventional pain management, and his philosophy on comprehensive patient care.