Donald Corenman MD DC | Spine Surgeon Colorado

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Lollipop
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December 10, 2016 at 2:53 pm

Post count: 31

in reply to: New cervical spine issues nearly eight years post cervical laminoplasty #23520

Hi, I will resend prior post…

I had the most recent MRI done because I was having pain in the left side of my neck and an occasional feeling of something catching, the same area feels tight and swollen internally. The tightness feels better for a little bit after I tip my head hard to the right. I also have intermittent tingling in my third and fourth fingertips on my left hand. I have had crepitis in my neck forever but sometimes when I turn my neck now, there is a tremendous crack that I feel and hear. The right side of my neck is fine.

Here is the previous post…

I have corresponded with you regarding my lumbar spine in the past. Most recently regarding the arthrodesis of my L4-5 fusion. I am scheduled to have a revision in January.
Today, I am writing to get your “take” on a recent MRI of my cervical spine. I did have a cervical laminoplasty in 2009 due to severe congenital stenosis. It was a C4-C6 laminoplasty which was successful and I have had no further issues until around July of this year. I did have an MRI in May 2010. (1.5 years after my surgery) I will include the results of that here for comparison of my most recent MRI.
MRI done 5/28/2010
1. Status post laminectomy and fusion from C4-C6 on the right since the previous examination.
2. Severe cervical spondylosis as has been previously described. There is left-sided encroachment at C7-T1 due to focal hypertrophic change which is unchanged from the last exam

MRI November 21, 2016
The results are lengthy so I will just give you the “impression.”
1. Development of a new small right paramedian disc protrusion/herniation of 2 to 3 mm in AP range at T2-3 based on sagital images compared to the previous MRI of 5/28/10. Therefore, further evaluation by MRI of the thoracic spine is suggested.
2. Moderate bilateral neural foraminal stenosis due to spurring from the uncovertebral joints at C4-5 and slight retrolisthesis of C4 on C5 causing mild ventral thecal flattening but no focal disc herniation or central spinal stenosis.
3. A small right paramedian osteophyte disc complex at C5-6 causing mild right ventral thecal indentation but no herniated disc, significant spinal stenosis or significant neural foraminal stenosis.
4. Apparently severe right and moderate left neural foraminal stenosis at C6-7 but evaluation for the right-sided neural foraminal stenosis from C4-5 through C6-7 are limited due to ferromeagnetic artifact from the posterior fixation pedicle screws.
I am wondering what you think about this most recent MRI. I don’t know if this is something I should get evaluated before I have my revision of the arthrodesis.

Thank you so much! Lollipop

Lollipop
Participant

December 6, 2016 at 12:58 pm

Post count: 31

in reply to: New cervical spine issues nearly eight years post cervical laminoplasty #23515

Hi,
I’m following up about my recent post. The only reason I am asking you is that my primary physician ordered my recent cervical MRI and said I would need to discuss it with my surgeon. I would, but he passed away unexpectedly six months after my laminoplasty. I have switched to a neuro spine surgeon who will do the revision of my arthrodesis at L4-L5 in January. I am not sure at all if these results are important or can wait. I know most surgeries are “elective,” as was my laminoplasty… though I was told I could be paralyzed from my neck down with a bad fall or car accident.

Please respond, as I will determine who to follow up with from your opinion. Thank you.

Lollipop
Participant

October 21, 2016 at 2:37 pm

Post count: 31

in reply to: Pars defect after L4-L5 laminectomy, discectomy #23235

Thank you. Right now it’s a mute point as I can’t even get in with this doc until January for surgery. I was hoping to do it as my deductible has been met. I guess everyone is thinking the same thing… What if I do nothing and just deal with it. Is there any danger given my situation. Feeling frustrated. Thanks much!

Lollipop
Participant

October 12, 2016 at 8:35 am

Post count: 31

in reply to: Pars defect after L4-L5 laminectomy, discectomy #23189

Hi!
What is the technical name of the hook/hook procedure. I would like to read about it. Thanks!

Lollipop
Participant

October 12, 2016 at 8:34 am

Post count: 31

in reply to: Pars defect after L4-L5 laminectomy, discectomy #23188

Hi!
What is the technical name of the hook/hook procedure. I would like to read about it. Thanks!

Lollipop
Participant

October 10, 2016 at 4:06 pm

Post count: 31

in reply to: Pars defect after L4-L5 laminectomy, discectomy #23176

Hi Dr. Corenman,
I got a second opinion today from a neurosurgeon regarding my arthrodesis and wanted to update you. He showed me the CT scan and totally explained that the Left L4 pedicle screw was not placed at an angle but pretty much straight in. It is moving and is impinging on nerves. It has also caused a new pars fracture on the Right due to movement and the Right L4 screw is starting to show a halo affect. He said that I have no arthritis, which is a BIG relief to me, in that we can fix this and I can move forward. I thought some of my pain was due to beginning arthritis.

He does not feel the Left L4 will support a screw anymore so he will do a TLIF at L4-5 using a cage, some of my bone and BMP. He will remove all previous hardware. He will place new rods and pedicle screws L3-5 on the Right and pedicle screws at L3 and L5 on the left, if I understood him correctly. He sees no need to involve L5-S1 at this time, as my orthopedic surgeon had planned. I also had x-rays today to help him see and maintain the proper curvature of my spine. I am encouraged and plan to get this done between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Thank you so much for your encouragement to get a second opinion. You are so kind to have this forum!
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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 29 total)

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Donald Corenman, MD, DC

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81 reviews

Eric S

Sep 26, 2021

by Eric S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Successful pars repair at 46 years old

Back in November of 2018 (at 46 years old) I came from Vancouver BC to have a pars repair done with Dr. Donald Corenman at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado. I'm finally posting this review nearly three years later in late 2021. The reason I waited so long was I wanted to know the final result before I posted my review. Unfortunately in that time Dr. Corenman has retired. Nevertheless, I want to post this review of Dr. Corenman and his staff at the Steadman Clinic in their excellent treatment of my L5 pars interarticularis.

I fractured my pars at age 42 back in 2014 when rolling on the gym floor, and was denied treatment by the Canadian healthcare system, probably due to my age. First my GP told me there was no surgical option for a pars defect, which was quite incorrect! I tried to live with it, but the symptoms worsened (periodic random spine slippage and weeks of resultant pain after just bending over to tie my shoe, so I eventually learned to mostly squat and hardly bend). When I finally consulted with Canadian spine surgeons, I was told they believed my pars defect had been congenital (since birth). This was absurd, considering I had done extreme martial arts (including jiu jitsu) for years prior, as well as 5 years of reinforcing steel full time in my 20s, probably the hardest job on the back you can find. No pars defect like mine would possibly have allowed this--ergo it was impossible that I had had the defect since birth. I did however have an asymptomatic congenital spina bifida occulta that made me more susceptible to a pars fracture. In 2014 in one instant, I went from having the strongest back people I knew said they'd ever seen, to being unable to safely bend over and tie my shoe without a non-negligible risk of my spine slipping randomly (which would lead to weeks of pain after each occurrence). This was due to the unilateral L5 pars defect, otherwise known as spondylolysis. It was when lying in pain on the floor 4 years later after maybe the 6th spine slippage event post injury, that I had had enough, and resolved to have surgery. If Canada's "universal health care" said no, I would make lemonade from lemons, and find the very best surgeon in the world at pars repairs. That was Dr. Donald Corenman. Dr. Corenman back in 2018 ran a website https://neckandback.com/ that dedicated many pages to the science of every aspect of pars repairs, from eligibility (good discs on MRI), to best surgical techniques (minimal open compared to minimally invasive), best imaging to use (i.e., O-Arm with Stealth imaging vs. older fluoroscopy), the ideal amount of BMP to use and why not use too much or too little, and much more, all to do with pars repairs, pages upon pages of his site just on the pars, with scientific references and his own extensive expert opinion. As a health research statistician, I was very impressed with this. It was in stark contrast to the websites of other spine surgeons which barely gave the pars a word or two, focusing almost exclusively on fusions. I had found the best surgeon in the world for pars repairs, and so after Dr. Corenman personally screened my MRI to ensure my discs were healthy, I booked the surgery.

Being 46 years old at the time of surgery in 2018, with a 4-year-old pars fracture from 2014 combined with a congenital SBO meant my pars fragment was somewhat atrophied, but it was "very solid", said Dr. Corenman in the operative report. Nevertheless, it was challenging with two things to fix, the pars and SBO, and OR time was around 4 hours. Recovery over the following months was guided by a very clear "Spine binder" from the Steadman Clinic with strict rules of "no BLT" (no bending, lifting or twisting), and illustrated physiotherapy guidelines. They even warned patients to avoid fish oil supplements, which could excessively dampen inflammation and hence slow bone healing. They answered many questions I had during months of recovery, with responses coming from the very supportive Lori Fugate (then director of Dr. Corenman's practice), and Ehrich Bean (then physician's assistant at the practice), as well as a couple calls with Dr. Corenman himself after two of the CT scans. Ehrich Bean offered great advice for taking the spine binder conservatively due to the nature of pars repairs vs. fusions. The final post-op CT scan I had was a couple weeks ago at 34 months post-op, and Dr. Corenman had retired, but I got a very positive and informative call from Eric Strauch (current PA at the Steadman Clinic under Dr. Corenman's replacement there, and who had also worked with Dr. Corenman previously). The staff at the Steadman Clinic were extremely supportive all the way through the process. I should mention, the local Canadian spine surgeon did offer me very good post-operative support including antibiotics as needed to deal with a mild surface incision-site infection early on, booking numerous x-rays when I felt something was amiss, as well as booking all four of my post-op CT scans. I am very grateful for that support also.

My final result shows plenty of solid bone across the pars and a healed SBO, with my vertebral body now a solid bone ring instead of being broken at two places as it was pre-op. Does my spine hold up in the real world? You bet! I have recently dug and moved several yards of dirt and sand and gravel by myself (shovel and wheelbarrow!) to fix our water main, pulled roots from the yard, moved several "portable" (these are HUGE) air conditioners up several flights of stairs my myself, and lifted weights. I now run 2 miles (3.2 KM) several times weekly with a hard 100 meter dash in the middle. I bend deeply before each run I go on, with no spine slippage. My spine feels amazing. I can bend over to do exercise, or real word tasks, with no risk of spine slippage.

My sincere thanks to God, Dr. Donald Corenman, Lori Fugate, Ehrich Bean, Eric Strauch, and the Steadman Clinic, as well as the Canadian spine surgeon who offered me excellent post-operative care back in Canada. You have all given me a new lease on life.

Sincerely,
Eric S

Robert S

May 11, 2021

by Robert S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Back Fusion Surgery

I had my entire lumbar spine fused in November of 2018. I had scoliosis , with pinched nerves that were so painful I could hardly walk - and standing for more than a few minutes was impossible. Even sitting was painful.
The fusion surgery produced immediate relief! And the recovery was much easier than I expected.
To this day I can do all the activities I love from hiking, to standing in a stream fly fishing to riding my bike long distances - or just walking down the street with my wife.
Kudos to Dr. Corenman and his staff, (including the two Erics) for taking such good care of me!

Leslie R

Jul 9, 2020

by Leslie R on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

TLIF

I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic.

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Lollipop

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