FEATURE
GLMS INTERVIEWS Dr. Kirk Owens and Dr. Tad
Seifert
Aaron Burch
As part of our athletics issue, GLMS spoke with two experts in their fields, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Dr. Roger Kirk Owens and Neurologist Dr. Tad
Seifert, to discuss some basics of injury and recovery with athletes. These interviews have been edited for clarity.
DR. KIRK OWENS
NORTON LEATHERMAN SPINE CENTER
Tell me about your work at the Spine Center. How
long have you worked with Norton?
I’ve worked at Norton Leatherman Spine
Center since 2011. I completed medical
school and my orthopedics residency here
in Louisville as well. I completed a one-year
fellowship in spine surgery at the Norton
Leatherman Spine Center.
What spinal injuries do you see most frequently?
The most common injuries seen are muscular strains. Fortunately,
these typically have a relatively self-limited course and patients tend
to improve with rest.
A more serious issue that can occur in the spine of athletes is
spondylolysis. Spondylolysis is a stress fracture that typically occurs
in the lower lumbar spine, most commonly at L5. This is an overuse
injury that more commonly occurs in athletes who hyperextend
their back frequently, such as gymnasts and football linemen. It
occurs in about 3-7 percent of athletes.
Could you talk about the process of a patient being seen? What tests are
done when patients enter your care?
A patient is typically evaluated with a history and physical, and a
lumbar X-ray. Sometimes a stress fracture is readily apparent, but
often times it is not. In these cases, patients are often treated with
rest, anti-inflammatory medications or physical therapy. If the
symptoms do not improve, we will typically order an MRI. In some
cases, a CT scan may be obtained, but we try to minimize the use
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