Spine Services (Old)

At the Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia, one of our goals is to improve the quality of life for people with issues of the spine. We offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment options for all type of back & neck issues. Whether our patients’ treatments are conservative or surgical, we are dedicated to applying leading-edge technology, the latest techniques and the most effective therapy to help improve their mobility and lives.

Thomas P. Loumeau, MD

BOARD CERTIFIED IN ORTHOPAEDIC SPINE SURGERY

Dr. Loumeau, specializes in the diagnostic and treatments of the spine. He brings a vast amount of knowledge to the Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia and offers many innovative procedures to better the health of our community.

Dr. Loumeau attended the Trinity College of Medicine in Dublin, Ireland, the University of Illinois neurosurgery residency program in Peoria, Illinois, as well as the University of Florida orthopaedic surgery residency program in Jacksonville, Florida. He completed his spine surgery fellowship at one of the top spine surgery centers in the nation – OrthoCarolina, in Charlotte, NC.

Dr. Loumeau works with a wide variety of spinal conditions with a special interest in minimally-invasive procedures, deformity correction, spinal decompression and fusion, and motion preservation.

Treatment Options

Our physicians develop a complete, individualized treatment plan for each patient incorporating their diagnosis, lifestyle and treatment goals. We work as a team to achieve the best possible outcome for our patients.

Conservative Treatment

Whenever possible, our physicians will explore nonsurgical treatments first. These treatments may include medication(s), physical therapy, and/or injections to improve the patient’s condition.

Now Offering Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Endoscopic Spine Surgery is a state-of-the-art surgical procedure that uses micro incisions to allow your surgeon to visualize the surgical field through the use of an HD Endoscope. The operation is performed with minimal trauma to surrounding tissues, allowing patients to get back to work and life more quickly.

Benefits include:

Reduced Post-Operative Pain
Preserves Spine Mobility
Less Blood Loss
Less Scarring
Faster Recovery Time
Less Anesthesia During Surgery

Surgical Treatment

For some problems, surgery is the best solution. The surgeons at the Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia are highly skilled in the latest minimally invasive techniques that are associated with less postoperative pain and a faster recovery. In the hands of our experienced surgeons, the benefits of surgical treatment usually far outweigh the risks. Whatever the diagnosis is for our patients, our specialists are dedicated to restoring their function and relieving pain to the greatest degree possible by applying their knowledge and skill, combined with the latest techniques and advanced technology.

SOME ADVANCED SPINE PROCEDURES ARE NOW OFFERED IN THE SURGERY CENTER OF BJI – CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

Specialized Procedures Offered:

All
Specialized Procedures Offered

Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Endoscopic Spine Surgery is a state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses micro incisions to allow the surgeon to visualize the surgical field through the use of a High Definition Endoscope. The procedure is performed with minimal trauma to surrounding tissues, allowing patients to get back to work and life more quickly.

Benefits include:

Reduced Post-Operative Pain
Preserves Spine Mobility
Less Blood Loss
Less Scarring
Faster Recovery Time
Less Anesthesia During Surgery

Transforamenal Lumber Interbody Fusion (TLIF)

A form of spine fusion surgery in which the lumbar disc space is fused from a posterior approach outside of the facet joint. The surgical procedure involves removing a disc from between two vertebrae and fusing the vertebrae together.

Spinal Osteotomy

A surgical procedure usually performed to treat spinal deformity. Spinal osteotomies are often used as part of a spinal reconstructive procedure to achieve spinal balance, stability and correct spinal alignment.

Spinal Instrumentation

A method of straightening and stabilizing the spine after spinal fusion, by surgically attaching hooks, rods, and wire to the spine in a way that redistributes the stresses on the bones and keeps them in proper alignment.

Scoliosis Correction

Strategic spinal fusions to achieve better curvature correction of the spine.

Posterior Lumbar Inverbody Fusion (PLIF)

Used to fuse the disc space of the spine through entering from the back of the body with the goal to stop the motion at the segment causing pain.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

A surgery minimizing surgical incisions to reduce trauma to the body. … The goal of minimally invasive surgery is to reduce postoperative pain and blood loss, speed recovery, and lessen scarring.

Microdescectomy

The surgical removal of herniated disc material that presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord. The procedure involves removing the central portion of an intervertebral disc, the nucleus pulposus, which causes pain by stressing the spinal cord or radiating nerves.

Laminotomy

An procedure that removes part of a lamina of the vertebral arch in order to decompress the corresponding spinal cord and/or nerve root.

Laminoplasty

A procedure in which the lamina are hinged laterally opened like a door, and secured in their new position with suture or bone to enlarge the spinal canal.

Laminectomy

A surgical operation to remove the back of one or more vertebrae, usually to give access to the spinal cord or to relieve pressure on nerves.

Kyphoplasty

The surgical filling of an injured or collapsed vertebra. This procedure restores original shape and configuration and relieves pain from spinal compression.

Foraminotomy / Foraminectomy

Used to relieve pressure on nerves that are being compressed by the intervertebral foramina.

Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion

A minimally invasive procedure performed through the side of the body to treat spinal disorders and reduce long-term back or leg pain that has not responded to other treatments,.

Cervical Disc Replacement

Removing a damaged or degenerated cervical disc and replacing it with an artificial disc device.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)

Back surgery used to fuse the disc space of the spine through entering the front of the body through the abdomen.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)

A type of neck surgery that involves removing a damaged disc to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure and alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.