Donald Corenman MD DC | Spine Surgeon Colorado

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Jessanderi
Participant

January 9, 2019 at 9:55 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: Help explaining MRI results #30058

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Name: Jessica Sue Wilson | DOB: 12/23/1985 | MRN: 0005526298 | PCP: BRANDIE R YANCY, PA
MRI Spine Cervical WO Con – Details

Study Result
Impression
1. Small central disc protrusion at C4-C5 causing mild central stenosis
without foraminal stenosis.
2. Moderate disc space narrowing at C6-C7 with associated degenerative change
has worsened since the prior study. Mild central and right foraminal stenosis
and moderate left foraminal stenosis there.

Dictated by: Patrick Sorek, MD on 1/7/2019 11:52 AM.
Electronically signed by: Patrick Sorek, MD on 1/7/2019 11:55 AM.

Narrative
EXAMINATION: MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast

HISTORY: Cervical Radiculopathy; Neck pain, initial exam.

TECHNIQUE: Sagittal T1, T2 and STIR. Axial T2 and gradient-echo.

COMPARISON: MR cervical spine March 20, 2015. Plain film examination cervical
spine October 14, 2015.

ENCOUNTER: Not Applicable

FINDINGS:

Interval worsening of degenerative changes in the cervical spine. No
compromise of the craniocervical junction. At C2-C3 there is no disc
herniation or spinal stenosis.

At C3-C4 there is minor disc bulge without spinal stenosis.

At C4-C5 there is small central disc protrusion effacing ventral subarachnoid
space and causing mild impression on the cord without cord compression or
foraminal stenosis.

At C5-C6 mild endplate degenerative change without spinal stenosis.

At C6-C7 there is now moderate disc space narrowing with broad-based spur
disc complex causing mild right and moderate left foraminal stenosis. Mild
effacement ventral subarachnoid space.

At C7-T1 mild facet degenerative changes have worsened since the prior study.
No central or foraminal stenosis evident.

Component Results
There is no component information for this result.

General Information
Collected:
01/07/2019 7:54 AM

Resulted:
01/07/2019 11:55 AM

Ordered By:
DANIEL J COZZATI, PA-C

Result Status:
Final result

MyChart® licensed from Epic Systems Corporation © 1999 – 2018

Jessanderi
Participant

January 9, 2019 at 9:53 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: Help explaining MRI results #30057

Impression
1. No evidence for disc herniation or significant spinal canal stenosis in the lumbar region. There is mild narrowing of the left L5-S1 neural foramen, the other lumbar neural foramina appear to be reasonably patent. Mild disc bulging at the L4-L5 and
L5-S1 levels.
2. No compromise of the conus medullaris or cauda equina.
3. No unusual enhancement of the lumbar spine.

Dictated by: David Patrick DO on 11/3/2016 1:03 AM.
Electronically signed by: David Patrick DO on 11/3/2016 1:16 AM.

Narrative
EXAMINATION: MRI Lumbar Spine without and with IV Contrast
TECHNIQUE: Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine was performed utilizing a multiecho, multiplanar technique before and after administration of intravenous contrast (12 mL of MultiHance).

DATE: 11/3/2016 12:47 AM
COMPARISON: MRI thoracic spine performed 3/20/2015, CT pelvis performed 1/16/2014

INDICATION: 30-year-old female presents with low back pain, abdominal pain, urinary retention, 2 episodes of urinary incontinence.

ENCOUNTER: Not Applicable.
_________________________

FINDINGS:

1. The lumbar vertebral bodies have normal height, marrow signal and gross alignment.
2. The visualized distal spinal cord is normal in appearance, the conus medullaris ending in appropriate location at the level of the L1-L2 disc space.
3. The contrast enhanced images demonstrate no unusual enhancement of the conus medullaris or cauda equina. There is no unusual enhancement of the lumbar vertebral bodies or lumbar paraspinal soft tissues.
4. The lumbar spinal canal is diminutive in caliber on a developmental basis.

Disc levels:

L1-L2: No significant abnormality.

L2-L3: No significant abnormality.

L3-L4: Minimal disc bulge. No significant abnormality.

L4-L5: Disc height well-maintained. Mild diffuse disc bulge. The bulging disc effaces the ventral aspect of the thecal sac and results in mild reduction in thecal sac caliber. The bulging disc effaces both L5 nerve root sleeves as it exits the thecal sac
(6:30). No significant spinal canal stenosis. The neural foramina are patent bilaterally. Facet joints within normal limits.

L5-S1: Mild loss of disc height with a degree of disc desiccative change. There is eccentric disc bulging posterior laterally on the left. There is a small posterior annular tear posterior laterally on the left. There is no spinal canal or right neural
foraminal stenosis. There is mild left neural foraminal stenosis. Minimal facet joint arthropathy.
_________________________

Jessanderi
Participant

January 9, 2019 at 9:52 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: Help explaining MRI results #30056

1. Mild disc space narrowing at C6-7.

Dictated by: Bruce Goethe, MD on 10/15/2015 4:42 PM.
Electronically signed by: Bruce Goethe, MD on 10/15/2015 4:44 PM.

Narrative
EXAMINATION: Cervical Spine, Three Views or Less

HISTORY: Neck pain.

FINDINGS: AP and lateral views.
Comparison with the complete examination performed on 09/19/07. No evidence
of fracture, subluxation, or other acute bony abnormality. Very mild disc
space narrowing at C6-7. The other disc spaces and vertebral body heights are
well-maintained.

Component Results
There is no component information for this result.

General Information
Collected:
10/14/2015 1:48 PM

Resulted:
10/15/2015 4:44 PM

Ordered By:
MIRIAM A SCHERRER, PA-C

Jessanderi
Participant

January 9, 2019 at 9:51 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: Help explaining MRI results #30055

IMPRESSION:
1. T8-T9 demonstrates a stable right paracentral disc protrusion that
minimally effaces the thoracic spinal cord. There is no cord edema.

Dictated by: David Smullen, MD on 3/21/2015 10:29 AM.
Electronically signed by: David Smullen, MD on 3/21/2015 10:31 AM.

Narrative
EXAMINATION: MRI Thoracic Spine without Contrast

HISTORY: THORACIC PAIN.

TECHNIQUE: Sagittal and axial T1 and T2-weighted and sagittal STIR sequences.

Comparison: May 21, 2014

FINDINGS:

T8-T9 demonstrates a stable right paracentral disc protrusion that minimally
effaces the thoracic spinal cord. There is no cord edema.

The intervertebral foramina in the imaged areas are within normal limits with
no apparent cross-sectional diameter compromise of significance.

The overall vertebral body heights are maintained within normal limits and
the appearance of the marrow spaces within the vertebral bodies is normal for
age.

The visualized spinal cord has appropriate internal signal.

Component Results
There is no component information for this result.

General Information
Collected:
03/20/2015 8:20 PM

Resulted:
03/21/2015 10:31 AM

Jessanderi
Participant

January 9, 2019 at 9:49 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: Help explaining MRI results #30054

Impression
IMPRESSION:
1. There are mild, stable degenerative changes of C3-C4.
2. C4-C5 demonstrates a mild interval increase in the central disc
protrusion. There is no significant spinal canal narrowing. There is no
neural foraminal narrowing.

Dictated by: David Smullen, MD on 3/21/2015 9:57 AM.
Electronically signed by: David Smullen, MD on 3/21/2015 10:01 AM.

Narrative
EXAMINATION: MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast

HISTORY: NECK PAIN.

TECHNIQUE: Sagittal T1, T2 and STIR. Axial T2 and gradient-echo.

Comparison: May 21, 2014

FINDINGS:

C2-C3 demonstrates no posterior disc abnormality, central canal or neural
foraminal narrowing.

C3-C4 demonstrates a mild posterior disc protrusion with a slightly more
prominent central component. There is no lateral recess or neural foraminal
narrowing. The AP diameter spinal canal measures 9 mm. This is stable when
compared to the prior study.

C4-C5 demonstrates a central disc protrusion. There is no neural foraminal
narrowing. The AP diameter spinal canal measures 9 mm. This has progressed
since the prior study.

C5-C6 demonstrates no posterior disc abnormality, central canal or neural
foraminal narrowing.

C6-C7 demonstrates no posterior disc abnormality, central canal or neural
foraminal narrowing.

C7-T1 demonstrates no posterior disc abnormality, central canal or neural
foraminal narrowing.

Signal within the cervical spinal cord is normal.

Jessanderi
Participant

January 9, 2019 at 9:43 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: Help explaining MRI results #30053

Study Result
Narrative
Report
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING:THORACIC SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CERVICAL SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST

HISTORY: Pain with bilateral radiculopathy.

MRI THORACIC SPINE:

There is normal alignment of the vertebral bodies that appear normal in height and signal intensity. Disc spaces are maintained. The spinal cord has normal shape and signal intensity.

At T8-9 is noted a small right paracentral focal disc protrusion which abuts the anterior aspect of the cord without displacing it.

There is no canal stenosis, neural foraminal narrowing, or disc herniation.

IMPRESSION:

Small right paracentral focal disc protrusion at T8-9. This abuts the anterior aspect of the cord without displacing it.

MRI CERVICAL SPINE:

There is normal alignment of the vertebral bodies that appear normal in height and signal intensity. Disc spaces are maintained. The spinal cord has normal shape and signal intensity.

C2-3: No abnormality.

C3-4: Central focal disc protrusion without neural impingement.

C4-5: Minimal diffuse disc bulge without neural impingement.

C5-6: No abnormality.

C6-7: No abnormality.

C7-T1: No abnormality.

IMPRESSION:

Small central focal disc protrusion at C3-4 without neural impingement.

Interpretation Location: 10.10.161.33

********** FINAL REPORT **********
Dictated By: Delaunay MD , Stephane L 05/21/2014 20:24
Assigned Physician: Delaunay MD , Stephane L
Reviewed and Electronically Signed By: Delaunay MD , Stephane L 05/22/2014 18:11
Transcribed by: JAC 05/22/2014 17:54
Technologist: CDC

Component Results
There is no component information for this result.

General Information
Collected:
05/21/2014 4:15 PM

Resulted:
05/21/2014 4:15 PM

Ordered By:
JUDEAN JOHNSON-MORGAN, DO

Result Status:
Final result
Author

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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 7 total)

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Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Average rating:

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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Jessanderi

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