Dissection: A Spine Blog
Dissecting the latest in spine health and life at Dr. Katsuura’s Spine Clinic.
I try to share interesting and educational concepts in spine care and focus on the joy of medicine and surgery.
This blog is 100% human produced.
Treating Complex Spine Problems in the Elderly: My Approach
In this video, Dr. Katsuura showcases how targeted spinal fusion can alleviate pain and restore mobility in elderly patients with complex spinal deformities. Learn how advanced surgical techniques provide lasting relief and improve quality of life.
🔹 Minimally invasive spine surgery
🔹 Spinal fusion for deformity correction
🔹 Elderly patient pain management
📍 Serving patients in Marin County & Beyond
The ALIF Procedure, and Why I Love Surgery
In this video, I break down the Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) procedure—its benefits, potential risks, and what makes it a great (or not-so-great) option for certain patients. I’ll share my thoughts on why I love surgery, the precision it requires, and how ALIF can provide life-changing results when done right.
When Spine Surgery is Not the Answer
Discover the key differences between carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical radiculopathy as a Dr. Katsuura shares an insightful patient story. Learn about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options in this expert discussion
Spinal Fusion Explained
Dr. Katsuura is a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Main, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco explains one of the most common procedures in spinal surgery, the spinal fusion.
In this post and video Dr. Katsuura discusses the basic principles behind the spinal fusion, some common types of spinal fusions, the risks and finally the recovery process.
Lumbar Fusion: Dreadful or Incredible?
In this post I recount the story of a patient with a slipped disc in her back causing extreme pain. Learn how we restored her back to full mobility.
Dr. Katsuura, a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco treats a wide range of back and neck conditions in his spinal clinic. He is an expert in minimally invasive, reconstructive and motion preserving procedures.
Fixing a Crushed Vertebra in Under 10 Min
In this post I recount the story of a patient with a crushed vertebra in her back causing extreme pain. Learn how we restored her back to full mobility.
Dr. Katsuura, a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco treats a wide range of back and neck conditions in his spinal clinic. He is an expert in minimally invasive, reconstructive and motion preserving procedures.
Imagine Having a Marble Stuck in Your Back
Dr. Katsuura, a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco treats a wide range of back and neck conditions in his spinal clinic. He is an expert in minimally invasive, reconstructive and motion preserving procedures.
Here we recount the story of a patient with a marble sized disc herniation in her back causing extreme pain. Learn how we restored her back to full mobility.
Fire Chief Conquers Cervical Stenosis
In this post we learn about a Fire Chief who battled with a condition known as cervical stenosis that resulted in the loss of use of his arm.
Dr. Katsuura, a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Main, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco treats a wide range of back and neck conditions in his spinal clinic. He is an expert in minimally invasive, reconstructive and motion preserving procedures.
“I Couldn’t Put on My Jewelry”
In this post we learn about a condition known as cervical myelopathy which can result in devastating neurological consequences if left untreated.
Dr. Katsuura, a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Main, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco treats a wide range of back and neck conditions in his spinal clinic. He is an expert in minimally invasive, reconstructive and motion preserving procedures.
Feeling 30 Again.
Dr. Katsuura, a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco, discusses his approach using the microdiscectomy procedure for the treatment of lumbar disc herniations.
Is it Possible to Get a New Neck?
Dr. Katsuura, a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Main, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco also discusses his treatment approach using the artificial disc replacement (ADR/CDR) for cervical disc degeneration and cervical spinal cord compression (cervical myelopathy).
Simple or Sinister?
Dr. Katsuura is a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Main, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco explains common conditions that cause neck pain.
Does neck pain indicate normal muscular pain or something more sinister?
In this post and video Dr. Katsuura discusses some common ailments that affect the neck (cervical spine) and cause pain. Learn what symptoms to look out for and when you should seek medical attention.
We learn about the anatomy of the cervical spine and some of the ways things can go wrong.
First Day In the OR
In this Post and Video, Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura, a board certified orthopedic spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Mendocino, Novato, San Francisco, Sonoma shares the first impressions of his premedical student entering the world of surgery.
The Bad Guys: The Evil Cast of Characters Hell Bent on Taking Down your Spine
In this Post and Video, Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura, a board certified orthopedic spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Mendocino, Novato, San Francisco, Sonoma explains the evil cast of characters that are hell bent on taking down your spine. They include conditions such as stenosis, spondylolisthesis, myelopathy, osteoporosis and radiculopathty. He also describes the amazing treatments that are available to fight back.
Preventing “Burnout”
Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura, a board certified orthopedic spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Mendocino, Novato, San Francisco, Sonoma explains how the structure of the lumbar vertebra can be used as a tool to help prevent burnout in patients and physicians.
Exercises for Acute/Chronic Low Back Pain/Injury Prevention
Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura, a board certified orthopedic spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Mendocino, Novato, San Francisco, Sonoma explains a simple exercise routine to help keep your back healthy. In this video we explore why exercise is so critical for low back health, common pitfalls and the three components of a low back exercise program. Please check with your doctor before starting a low back pain program. If you have had prior surgery, please check with your surgeon if these exercises are right for you.
Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI): What Your Surgeon Wants You to Know
Dr. Yoshihiro (Yoshi) Katsuura, a board certified orthopaedic spine surgeon serving Marin, Mendocino, Novato, Sonoma, and San Francisco explains epidural steroid injections and how they are used to treat spine pain.
Epidural steroid injections are commonly used, but patietns have many misconceptions about what they can and cannot do. Here I provide a summary on their use from the perspective of a spine surgeon.
The Spine Encyclopedia is Now Available at Clear Lake, Sonoma and Mendocino County Libraries
Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura MD, a spine surgeon serving Mendocino, Marin, Novato, Sonoma,Clear Lake and San Francisco is excited to announce that the library how has copies of The Spine Encyclopedia available. Now the community will have free access to high quality spine educational material.
Top 5 Causes of Low Back Pain
Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura, a board certified orthopaedic spine surgeon serving Marin, Mendocino, Novato, Sonoma, and San Francisco explains the most common causes of low back pain.
In the post we discuss, lumbago, spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, spondylosis, scoliosis, flat back and more
A New Lease on Life
Dr. Katsuura, a spine surgeon serving Marin, Sonoma, Novato, San Francisco, and Mendocino uses minimally invasive techniques to get an 83 year old man back to what he loves to do most.