Procedures

Evaluation
Epidural Steroid Injections
Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar
Facet Joint Injections
Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar
Shoulder & Hip Injections
Sacroiliac Joint Injections
Nerve Blocks
Intrathecal pain pumps
Spine Neurostimulators
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
Spinal Manipulation Under Anesthesia*

Specializing in:

Surgical and nonsurgical spine care
A comprehensive continuum of spine care services

*Spinal Manipulation Under Anesthesia

Spinal Manipulation Under Anesthesia, SMUA, is a procedure that has been performed by Osteopathic Physicians for over 70 years.

SMUA is a non-invasive procedure offered for acute and chronic conditions, including: neck pain, back pain, joint pain, muscle spasm, shortened muscles, fibrous adhesions and long term pain. It is used to treat pain arising from the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine as well as the sacroiliac and pelvic regions.

Spinal manipulation under anesthesia uses a combination of specific passive stretches and specific maneuvers in order to break up fibrous adhesions and scar tissue around the spine and surrounding tissue.

The treatment is performed at the Charlottesville Surgical Center by Dr Mark Dean who has specialized training and board certification specifically for the procedure and performs them regularly.

The procedure usually lasts less than 15 minutes and is repeated over 3 to 5 consecutive days. Following the series of SMUA, the patient must follow a strict in-office follow-up care and physical therapy to maintain the gains received through the procedure.

Certain neck, mid back, low back or other spinal conditions may respond poorly to conventional care. This may be the result of past or present injury where adhesions and scar tissue have built up around spinal joints and within the surrounding muscles, causing chronic pain.

Patients often undergo various treatments, such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, epidural injections, back surgery, or other treatments that do not address fibrous adhesions. Some patients feel temporarily better with these treatments, but their pain often returns.
In general, patients selected for manipulation under anesthesia are those who have received conservative care for several months. If limited or no improvements in symptoms or objective findings have occurred, then manipulation under anesthesia may be an appropriate alternative.

Conditions in which we have had excellent results include: Failed back surgery, Fibrous adhesion buildup, Chronic disc problems, Herniated disc without fragmentation, Chronic myofascitis, Intractable pain from neuromusculoskeletal conditions, Torticollis, Fibromyalgia, and Frozen Shoulder Syndrome.

Spinal Manipulation Under Anesthesia is a procedure that should be done by a trained, board certified Osteopathic Physician in an outpatient surgical center.

Dr. Dean has trained local physical therapists and chiropractors in the rehabilitation techniques and procedures for spinal manipulation under anesthesia. Often the physical therapists and chiropractors will assist Dr Dean in the operating room.

If you would like further information or would like to be evaluated for a SMUA please call 434.975.2555.

Read more about some of the extensive spinal surgery procedures provided through Osteopathic Pain Management.

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