Spine Services

Our spinal services include patient education, individualized care, and advanced treatment and reconstruction choices to ensure the highest level of independence and physical ability.

Your Spine

Your spine is a flexible column of 33 bones, or vertebrae, running the length of your back. The first vertebra, which holds up the globe of your head, is the atlas.

The rest of your spine bears much of the weight of your body. As millions of people with chronic back problems know, when you injure your spine the consequences can be debilitating.

Some of the most common spinal problems include:

  • Fractures
  • Herniated disks
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Sprains
  • Osteoporosis
Treating You

Whether you are coping with the pain of a herniated disk or recovering from a spinal fracture, John Muir Health is here to help restore you to your normal, active self.

Treatment Options

Trauma, disease, and skeletal deformity can result in spinal instability and compression of the spinal cord causing pain and loss of neurological function. Some of the treatments we offer include:

Complex Spine Reconstruction: Advanced techniques to reconstruct and stabilize the spine at all levels.

Minimally invasive spinal surgery: Small surgical incisions to treat a variety of spinal disorders and conditions, providing a quicker recovery than traditional open surgical techniques.

Discectomy/microdiscectomy: Surgical removal or partial removal of a vertebral disc to relieve pressure from the nerves.

Disc replacement: Surgical replacement of a diseased or herniated lumbar disc with an artificial disc.

Laminectomy: Surgical removal of part of the lamina to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Spinal Fusion: A procedure that uses a bone graft and surgical hardware to create a solid union between two or more vertebrae to provide additional spinal support.

Vertebroplasty: Injecting bone cement into the vertebrae to stabilize fractures, resulting in significant pain relief and restoration of mobility.

Learn how to prepare for your upcoming spine surgery. Watch this important video featuring Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Steven Lee, and Neurosurgeon and Spine Specialist, Dr. Maxwell Merkow.

Our Services
  • Experienced, board-certified spine surgeons recognized nationally for their expertise and focused on providing you with the best possible care, who specialize in minimally invasive and advanced technology spinal surgery
  • State-of-the-art technology in one of the largest, non-academic spine programs in California
  • Compassionate nurses with training in orthopedics — many who are orthopedic nurse certified — to help provide the individualized care, education, and support you need when you have a musculoskeletal condition or injury
  • Continuous care, from diagnosis and treatment through recovery and rehabilitation, in comfortable, dedicated orthopedic and rehabilitation units
  • Case managers to help you navigate your treatment and recovery
  • A physical therapy and rehabilitation program offering individualized treatment to help you meet your specific goals