Kay E. Gaehle

Artificial Urinary Sphincters

The artificial urinary sphincter offers patients who have incontinence due to loss of sphincter control the chance to regain control over urination. A well-planned diagnostic evaluation readily identifies patients who can benefit from this operative procedure. Placement of the artificial urinary sphincter is individualized to each patients anatomic structure. Through the combined efforts of the surgeon, the urodynamics nurse, the surgical team, and the postoperative nursing staff, these patients experience a quick recovery and rapid return of control over bladder function.

Adult Lumbar Scoliosis

Innovative surgical approaches to current adult lumbar scoliosis result in faster recovery time and greater satisfaction regarding patient abilities after surgery. Combined ASF/PSF requires expert surgical team coordination throughout the perioperative period to achieve positive patient results.

Lumbar Disc Herniation

When treating patients with low back pain, it is important to differentiate the nature of the pain as it may be complicated by radiculopathy, defined as pain radiating in the distribution of a single lumbar or sacral nerve root with or without motor or sensory changes. Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the most common cause of radiculopathy in adults with an estimated annual incidence ranging from 1.6 % in the general population to 43 % in certain occupations. The symptoms of radiculopathy are due to the direct mechanical compression on a nerve root as well as the inflammatory mediators present when disc material enters the spinal canal.