Many patients feel minimally-invasive means “Laser Spine Surgery”.  However laser spine surgery is never indicated in any case.  Stephen P. Banco, MD, formerly of The Reading Neck and Spine Center, spent years educating patients against the use of lasers in spinal surgery and will continue to do so at Keystone Spine and Pain Management, his new comprehensive spinal treatment center. The truth about laser spine surgery:  It doesn’t work and it is not covered by insurance….

Stephen P. Banco, MD of Wyomissing, Berks County, PA was recently appointed to the editorial review board of Clinical Spine Surgery.  Dr. Banco, President of Keystone Spine and Pain Management, has been a fellowship-trained Orthopaedic Spinal surgeon since 2002.   Dr. Banco’s new role will be to review and critique original spinal research submitted for publication to the journal. Dr. Banco will join a prestigious staff of physicians such as Alan Hilibrand, MD, Todd Albert,…

Stephen P. Banco, MD, and Steven M. Evans, DO, formerly of The Reading Neck and Spine Center, has moved their practice to a new location at 2607 Keiser Blvd, Suite 200, Wyomissing, PA, 19610. Keystone Spine and Pain Management Center, a new, state-of-the-art spine center, will include physical therapy, primary-care physicians, wound care and a complete imaging center.  Keystone Spine and Pain Management will be completely digital with an advanced electronic medical record and X-ray system….

Tiger Woods withdrew from the Farmer’s Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California due to back spasms. Woods underwent a microdiskectomy last year for a herniated disk and has been struggling with his back, and his golf game, since the surgery. As a result, Woods requires an extensive pre-round stretching routine. Unfortunately, a two-hour fog delay allowed for his lumbar spine to tighten-up leading to significant low back spasms. “It’s just my glutes…

With NFL training camp a week away, Jermichael Finley and David Wilson, who both suffered serious spinal injuries last season, are two players looking to get back on the field. Both are recovering from anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion surgery (ACDF). Peyton Manning underwent this surgery and was cleared for return to play. However, specific criteria must be met prior to resuming contact sports. A recent article in the journal Neurosurgery demonstrated athletes are safe…

On March 31, 2014, Tiger Woods underwent a microdiscectomy for a herniated disc in his lumbar spine, effectively ending his golf season for three months. A microdiscectomy is the ‘gold standard’ procedure for eliminating a herniated disk.  The success rate of the surgery is between 95-98%.  The surgery creates a small incision in the back, with minimal tissue or muscle destruction.  Sometimes a small amount of bone is removed to facilitate the removal of disk. …