Injuries involving the spine are among the most common compensation claims in the United States. Statistically, problems with the low back are the second leading cause of missed time from work and one of the leading reasons people see orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. Many of these cases will not be trauma-induced, raising complex proximate cause issues. When back pain results in surgery, the value of a claim is dramatically increased.
Each surgical procedure has unique benefits and challenges. Laminectomies, fusions, laser percutaneous discectomies, and corpectomies: it is not uncommon for attorneys and claims professionals alike to not appreciate the differences among procedures, but those differences are important and may potentially influence the value of the case.
Prepared by award-winning law professor Samuel D. Hodge, Jr., and neurosurgeon Dr. James G. Lowe, these materials delve into how the different procedures are performed and present the benefits and risks of each.
Summary of Contents
The Spine
- Statistics on the Back
- Parts of the Spine
- Curves of the Spine
- Vertebrae
- Spinal Cord
- Thecal Sac
- Epidural Space
- Spinal Nerves
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Whiplash
- Intervertebral Discs
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylosis v. Spondylolisthesis
- Types of Spinal Surgery
- Appendix: Glossary of Terms
Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal Injuries (Slides)
- Vertebral Column
- Central Nervous System
- Spinal Cord
- Spinal Nerve Roots
- Diagnostic Studies
- Intervertebral Disc Injuries
- Spinal Nerve Root Injuries
- What is the Syndrome Called?
- Complications
- Acute Traumatic Spinal Injuries