What it means to be with Sutter: When my doctor asked how long I had been in pain, I told him I couldn’t remember. The pain had simply become part of life, like background music. Some days I didn’t notice it too much. Other days it drowned out everything, even my thoughts. Now my worst day is better than my best day used to be.

At Sutter Neuroscience Institute's Spine Program, we’re pioneering new ways to treat spinal disorders and conditions in children and adults. Our internationally recognized specialists offer the latest in minimally invasive surgery in the neck and spine.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Spine conditions are often complex, requiring diagnostic imaging to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem and its extent. The best course of care follows after reaching an accurate diagnosis. When possible, Sutter spine specialists first look at alternatives to surgery. In cases of trauma, when pain or reduced mobility does not respond to nonsurgical care, or when a surgical approach is known to provide the surest and best relief, Sutter spine surgeons offer a number of surgical options - seeking the least invasive approach that will provide the maximum benefit.

Sutter neurosurgeons use traditional and minimally invasive techniques to treat degenerative, deformity-related, developmental, tumor-related and infectious conditions of the neck and spine. Information about diagnosis and treatment of many conditions of the neck and back is available in our Health Information Library under the following topics: Ankylosing Spondylitis; Arthritis (Osteoarthritis), Arthritis (Rheumatoid), Back Problems and Injuries, Curvature of the Spine (Scoliosis), Degenerative Disc Disease, Herniated Disc, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Neck Problems and Injuries, Osteoporosis, and Spinal Stenosis. Additional information resources include the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Back Pain, and North American Spine Society.

Recent Advances
Medical science is constantly developing more effective and less invasive techniques to diagnose and treat neck and spine conditions. Recent advances include minimal access spinal technology (MAST). Similar to arthroscopic surgery of the joints, MAST enables doctors to perform surgery through smaller incisions using fiber-optic video cameras and specially designed tools. Surgeons use MAST and other proven technologies to correct spinal curvature, relieve pressure on nerves, replace discs, fortify vertebrae, remove excess bone and disc tissue, and fuse vertebrae. Your Sutter surgeon can discuss the various treatments available and make recommendations based on your specific condition.

In addition to standard care, some of Sutter's spine surgery specialists are actively involved in clinical trials through Sutter Institute for Medical Research, providing patients access to the latest advances in neck and back treatments. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, talk to your surgeon about current clinical trials seeking volunteers.

Care for Infants and Children
Children with back and neck problems that exist from birth, develop over time, or result from an accident also receive dedicated diagnosis and treatment. Many spine specialists in the region see patients of all ages. For infants and children with more complex conditions, Children's Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento offers care from skilled pediatric orthopedic and neurosurgery surgeons and an interdisciplinary team of specialists. To find out more, see the Children's Neurosurgery Services page.

Find Out More
Patients generally receive referrals from their primary care doctors to neurosurgeons surgeons who treat neck and back conditions. To self-refer or learn more about surgeons who care for the back and neck, go to the Physician & Practitioner Directory and select Spine Surgery from the drop-down menu under Physician Specialties. Clicking on a physician's name opens a profile, which offers more insight into the physician's areas of concentration.

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