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An estimated 10 million adults suffer from chronic back and leg pain annually. The majority of patients suffer spine problems related to degenerative or traumatic conditions. These conditions can result in instability and intrusion into the spinal cord and surrounding nerves, causing back pain and/or radiating pain into the arms or legs.

In the past, there were few options for patients who weren’t helped by physical therapy, nerve blocks, back-strengthening exercises or injected medications. Until recently, adults with back or leg pain have undergone traditional or “open” spine surgery, requiring weeks or months of recovery. But now, thanks to new minimally invasive surgical techniques, an increasing number of people are not only finding relief, but regaining their mobility.

Surgery may involve a spinal fusion, a technique that fuses two or more vertebrae together to reduce the abdominal motion and eliminate instability and pain. There are several techniques for approaching the spine to perform the fusion, defined mainly by the direction of the approach. The direction options include the traditional open fusion methods from the back (posterior) or the abdomen (anterior or front) versus the newer minimally invasive techniques including the eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF). The XLIF procedure is a lateral (side) approach that provides direct access to the disc space, allowing for complete disc removal and implant insertion through two small incisions. The XLIF procedure includes the use of NeuroVision, a technologically advanced EMG system. This system allows for accurate, reproducible, real-time feedback about nerve health and function, reducing the risk at surgery.

XLIF Patient Benefits:
Traditional procedures can take many hours to perform; the XLIF procedure can be successfully completed in as little as one hour, reducing the amount of anesthesia time. There is reduced blood loss and minimal scarring due to using a retractor that dilates the tissue rather than cutting, resulting in much less trauma to the affected area. The lateral approach procedure does not require entry through sensitive back muscles, bones, or ligaments, so many patients are usually walking the same day after surgery with reduced post operative pain and shorter hospital stays. Recovery is typically around 6 weeks, compared to 6 months or more.

Those eligible for the surgery include people suffering from scoliosis, degenerative disc diseases, instability of the spine, and arthritis in the disc or spinal stenosis. While XLIF is the cutting-edge form of back surgery, minimally invasive procedures do not apply to every patient. Traditional open fusion surgeries are still performed in certain circumstances. Thorough evaluation is mandatory to determine the pain “generator”, so that the proper surgical techniques may be utilized.

In addition to Dr. Weber’s special training in the XLIF procedure and other minimally invasive procedures, he has been extensively trained and certified in a new technology that provides replacement of cervical and lumbar discs with an Artificial Disc.

Steven E. Weber, D.O. attended the University of Michigan where he received his B.S. degree in Biology. He earned his medical degree from Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his Internship and Orthopaedic Residency at Michigan State University. Following his Residency, Dr. Weber completed a Reconstructive Spinal Surgery Fellowship and was an Associate Clinical Instructor with the University of Florida.

Dr. Weber specializes in Adult Spinal Reconstruction, Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Surgery at Orlando Orthopaedic Center, with a group of 14 fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons and physicians with 5 locations throughout Orlando and Central Florida. Orlando Orthopaedic Center see patients for a multitude of orthopaedic conditions and injuries including spine, joint replacement, hand and wrist, podiatric foot and ankle, pediatrics, sports medicine and orthopaedic oncology.



May 2008


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