ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion)
The human body is under a constant barrage of wear and tear, especially that most vital of our central structure, the spine, and neck. Every day we bend, twist, and turn, and after all that activity it’s no surprise that roughly two-thirds of the population will experience neck pain at some point in their lives. […]
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Spinal Stenosis – Spine Surgeon in Columbia, South Carolina
Stenosis is a term used to describe an abnormal narrowing of a channel in the body in medical science, and spinal stenosis is a condition that affects many over the age of 50. The narrowing of the channel that your spinal nerves or cord run through can result in radiating pain, weakness, or numbness resulting […]
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Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
For most of the history of spinal surgery, it has been open surgery, a lengthy, invasive process that involved opening up the patient to provide a clear view and access to their anatomy. This process has resulted in extended recovery times for patients, as well as unsightly scars that never go away. Recent advances in […]
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Myelopathy
Have you been experiencing shooting pains or a numbness or tingling that radiates from your hands and arms? Do you find yourself having difficulty standing for long periods or pain localized to your neck? You may want to speak to your cervical surgeon, Dr. Peelle about testing for myelopathy. Myelopathy occurs when your spinal canal […]
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Spondylolisthesis
Our spine is a sturdy structure, and it needs to be. Throughout its lifetime it can suffer a myriad of different abuses based on our lifestyle, and eventually, the simple truths of time and wear and tear can result in damage. One form of damage that can occur to our spine is spondylolisthesis, a condition […]
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Vertebral Compression Fracture
Strong, durable, and flexible, our spines serve us throughout most of our life without fail, allowing us to enjoy an active lifestyle and freedom of movement. Sometimes, whether due to illness or injury this important structural system can suffer damage, especially in older patients. One common form of injury to the spine in those with […]
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Kyphoplasty
For much of the history of medical science, surgeries involving the spine were often messy, involved, and incredibly invasive. 5-6 incisions were often necessary, as well as spreading of the underlying tissue to provide visibility for Dr. Peelle, leading to soft-tissue damage following the procedure, large scars, and long recovery times. Thankfully recent technology has […]
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Laminectomy
The spine is a complex system within the body, comprising a combination of vertebra for support and protection, discs that serve to cushion the spine, and ligaments that provide strength and flexibility. However, in complex systems things can sometimes go awry, spinal stenosis being a common problem. Spinal stenosis is a term referring to the […]
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Microdisectomy
Throughout our life, our spine supports us day to day through walking, general movement, and athletic activities. The spinal discs that separate our vertebrae protect our spine from damage from these type of activities. Over time they experience wear and tear that may result in a portion of the disc breaking away and pressing against […]
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Posterior Lumbar Fusion (PSF)
Posterior Spinal Fusion (PSF) is a surgery aimed at stabilizing the spine and aiding patients suffering from lower back and leg pain, loss of coordination, weakness, and numbness resulting from pressure on the nerves. By carefully removing spurs, cysts, and foreign material that is impinging the spinal nerves, these symptoms can be alleviated or eliminated, […]
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Anterior Lumbar Fusion (ALIF)
Sharing a similarity to the posterior lumbar fusion surgery, an anterior lumbar fusion, or ALIF, works to fuse the spine by approaching through the patient’s abdomen. Using this approach, the muscles and abdominal organs are easily moved aside without damaging them. Dr. Peelle may choose to use an anterior approach for the benefits it provides […]
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Spinal Infections
One of the potential complications of spinal surgery are spinal infections. Spinal infections are incredibly rare occurrences that can happen in the intervertebral space, the individual bones of the spine, the spinal canal, or the soft tissues adjacent to the spine. There are various forms of spinal infections based upon where they appear, and they […]
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XLIF (Direct Lateral Fusion)
XLIF or Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion is one of a growing number of surgeries that take a minimally invasive approach. With this technique, the surgery is performed by entering the body from the side (laterally) to help relieve the underlying cause for symptoms, such as long-term back or leg pain that has proven resistant to […]
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Bone Graft Options (Stem Cells, Allograft, Autograft, BMP-2)
Spinal fusion surgeries can provide great relief to patients suffering from symptoms caused by spinal disorders, but many have questions as to where the bone graft that will be placed as part of the spinal fusion process will be obtained. There are multiple sources for bone tissue for use in bone grafting, and in some […]
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Scoliosis – Back Surgeon in Columbia, South Carolina
Scoliosis is a term that many of us heard in our grade school years, and in many cases, we would have local doctors and physicians come in and speak to us and check us for scoliosis as part of our education. The term scoliosis refers to a condition where the spine has become abnormally twisted, […]
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Sagittal Imbalance (Kyphosis)
Kyphosis, or sagittal imbalance, refers to a particular deformity of the spine where the front-and-back (sagittal) curvature of the spine is out of balance. In a healthy spine you’ll find two curves, a gentle inward curve of the lower spine called a lordosis, and a thoracic (middle spine) outward curvature is known as kyphosis. These […]
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Spinal Osteotomy
Pain-free function of the spine requires that the spine is in proper alignment. The natural alignment of the spine includes lordosis of the lower spine and neck, a gentle inward curve, are set in balance against the kyphosis of the middle spine to produce a harmonious balancing of your body’s center of gravity over the […]
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Image Navigation
Image Navigation is an exciting technology that aids surgeons in performing their procedures with a minimum of invasive procedures. Image navigation produces takes models of the spine in three-dimensions during the procedure, as well as imagery of Dr. Peelle’s tools, all of which permits Dr. Peelle to perform the procedure with smaller incisions. This means […]
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Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a medical procedure used to alleviate chronic lower back pain caused by an inflamed facet joint. The facet joints are located in pairs along the spine, from which medial branch nerves submit pain signals to the brain. A radiofrequency ablation (RFA) destroys these nerves using an electrically charged needle that submits heat […]
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Lumbar Medial Branch Block
The lower spine is lined with small joints called facet joints. These joints contain medial nerves that submit pain signals to the brain when the joint has become inflamed. A lumbar medial branch block is a numbing injection administered to the nerves of an inflamed facet joint in the lower back. The medication ‘blocks’ pain […]
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Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection – Spine Surgeon in Columbia, South Carolina
Lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections are pain management tools used to hone in on specific nerves responsible for lower back pain and radiculopathy in the lower extremities. During a transforaminal injection, steroids are injected directly into the neural foramen where nerves exit the spine. In comparison to interlaminar and caudal epidural steroid injections, transforaminal ESIs […]
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Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which the peripheral nerves become damaged, resulting in tingling, numbness, pain or loss of feeling in the feet and hands. Unfortunately, the condition can cause severe complications. A lack of feeling in the feet, for example, may prevent a person from feeling pain or temperature changes. This, in turn, […]
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Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection – Cervical Surgeon in South Carolina
Cervical epidural steroid injections are used for the treatment of chronic pain stemming from the cervical spine and may treat back pain causes. This may present as upper back pain, neck pain, head pain, and pain that radiates into the upper extremities. The injections are non-surgical and performed on an outpatient basis. Usually, a combination […]
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Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathy – Cervical Surgeon in South Carolina
Cervical radiculopathy is a condition in which nerve roots in the cervical spine (neck) are compressed by surrounding vertebrae. Lumbar radiculopathy is an equivalent condition of the lower spine and is more common than cervical radiculopathy. Compression can damage the nerves nearest to the spine, causing immense pain, muscle weakness and even numbness in various […]
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Cervical Disc Arthroplasty – Cervical Surgeon in South Carolina
What is Cervical Disc Arthroplasty? Cervical Disc Arthroplasty is essentially a joint replacement surgery that requires a surgeon to insert an artificial disc between the vertebrae once the natural disc has been removed. This allows a person to maintain function and eliminate any pain, discomfort, or debilitation they’ve experienced before. Did you know… The discs […]
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Neck Surgery – Spine Surgeon in Columbia, South Carolina
What is neck surgery? Neck surgery is commonly required when medications, physical therapy, and rest don’t help to eliminate or reduce neck pain, neck surgery is commonly the next step toward recovery. Considered a last resort, Dr. Peelle would prefer a patient see improvement through noninvasive procedures before they start treating a patient surgically. For […]
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Visco Supplementation
Visco supplementation is the use of specialized injections to reduce pain and inflammation in the knee. The injections are composed of a dense gel that contains hyaluronic acid, a biological protein that helps lubricate the joint. The body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, though quantities diminish with age. When this gel is injected directly into the […]
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Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a valuable tool to Dr. Peelle helping his patients rehabilitate injuries or recover from major surgery. It is a non-invasive method that can be used as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with other treatments. Physical therapy is a term used to describe a collection of therapeutic methods, such as exercise therapy, […]
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Spinal Disorders
What is spinal surgery? Spinal surgery is often the last resort for physicians and patients. If treatments like physical therapy, chiropractic care, and medications don’t alleviate your pain, spinal surgery may be the best option to regain your quality of life and begin enjoying yourself again. Whether you were injured in an accident, suffering from […]
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Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a progressive disease that causes spinal vertebrae to slowly begin fusing together – especially those in the lower back near the base of the spine. The inflammation that affects the joints can also gradually affect other areas of the body, such as the hip and shoulder joints, the eyes, or the […]
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Degenerative Disc Disease – Neurosurgeon in Columbia, South Carolina
Degenerative disc disease is a painful condition that causes recurring discomfort and interferences in nerve function. It occurs when the soft, spring-like discs of the spine begin to wear down, losing their ability to absorb shock. Although it is a normal condition associated with age, degenerative disc disease can be debilitating for some patients. Ranging […]
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