ally new stuff coming out.
“The way we do our fusions [is different]… . All
the ways to stabilize spine implants that we’re using
[incorporate] types of bone graphs. All these things
have changed quite a bit over the past 10 years, based
on research and the way we are learning about the spine.
Different types of treatment options [like] perfusion versus
decompression. Mobile sparring devices like disk replacements for the neck are very beneficial. [It] decreases
the re-operation rate.”
He encourages his patients to stay active, healthy
and fit. “Keep exercising and keep moving,” he said. He
believes yoga and Pilates are great for the spine —
anything that leads to staying active and keeping your
core fit.
One of his favorite success stories involved a woman
with a baby who weighed 20 pounds. When she lifted
him, she experienced a stabbing pain in her leg that led
to her being bedridden for two weeks. Her foot wasn’t
working, even dragging as she walked. She came into the
office, and a portion of her disc was removed. She went
home the same day, waking up from the surgery without
pain. Two weeks later she could lift her baby.
Another success involved a truck driver who, over
the years, had beaten up his back, and the result was an
unstable spine. A level two fusion was performed, and he
was in the hospital for only two days. Three weeks later
he was walking two miles a day, and after eight weeks he
was back behind the wheel of his truck.
As far as the future of spinal surgery, Dr. Happ would
like to see it become more specific and standardized.
“There is still a large portion of spine surgery, a good
thing, which is still an art,” he said. “You get 10 spine
surgeons in the room, you get 10 different opinions.
[We need to be able to] more specifically identify
pain generators [and] isolate exactly what is going on.
Hopefully there will be a more standard algorithm for
treatment, because a lot of people have a perceived
notion that spine surgery doesn’t work — you hear horror
stories. Technology has gotten so much better in the last
15 years; hopefully, if it continues on that path, it should,
[it will] be so much better. The bad stigma of it should
get so much better. At this point it will just take time.”
The doctor is settling in to his practice and wants
to stay in the area for many reasons, but one benefit is the
people he meets.
“It’s something new every day,” Dr. Happ said. “I don’t
sit in a cubicle and type every day. I see 20-30 different people with 30 different stories. Nothing is ever the
same, so it keeps it interesting.”
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