Post Surgical Management Part 1: Basic Principles and Spinal Surgery
Presented by Haideh V. Plock
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This course is part of our OCS Prep-Program. Learn more about the full prep-program here: MedBridge OCS Prep-Program.
Multiple considerations must be taken into account in the post-surgical management of musculoskeletal patients. This course will provide an overview of tissue healing principles, explain how tissue healing affects management of postsurgical patients, and present rehabilitation considerations for more common spinal surgical procedures encountered in an outpatient setting.
This is part one of a three part series covering postsurgical management. Be sure to watch:
Post Surgical Management Part 2: Upper Extremity Surgical Interventions
Post Surgical Management Part 3: Lower Extremity Surgical Interventions
Meet your instructor
Haideh V. Plock
Haideh graduated with a double major in Kinesiology and Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1991. Upon completion of her Master’s in Physical Therapy from Boston University in 1993, she accepted a position at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic. She worked there for the next 11 years specializing in…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Tissue Healing
When developing a rehabilitation program that follows a surgical procedure, you must take into account the structures involved and the basic physiologic adaptations following the procedure. Overall healing time and healing progression must be considered for different tissue including soft tissues and bone.
2. Post-Surgical Considerations
In this chapter, you will encounter an individual who has undergone a surgical procedure and needs to establish trackable subjective and objective baselines as well as the history specific to this individual's surgical course.
3. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion may be warranted in cases of cervical radiculopathy, cervical myelopathy, or in cases of persistent and/or severe axial neck pain due to spondylosis or degeneration that have failed conservative interventions. An understanding of the principles of tissue healing in addition to knowledge of the procedure performed is vital in development of a rehabilitation program following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
4. Lumbar Microdiscectomy and Fusion
Degenerative or pathologic changes of the intervertebral disc can lead to impingement of neural structures in the lumbar region. Cases that do not respond to conservative treatment may require a microdiscectomy procedure. The degenerative cascade can also lead to severe and disabling low back or leg pain. In these cases, as well as in cases of instability or possible neurologic injury, lumbar fusion may be indicated. Consideration of healing principles as well as the procedure done are necessary to determine the appropriate rehabilitation course.
