Department of Orthopaedics  and Rehabilitation UF SpineCare Center

The University of Florida SpineCare Center provides cost-effective and comprehensive treatment for patients with spine conditions.  Our goal is to help patients return to normal daily activities, at work and at home, as soon as possible.

Most people report back problems, such as pain, at some time in their lives.  Among working-age people, about 50% experience back symptoms each year and back problems are the most common cause of disability for individuals under the age of 45.  At any given time about 2% of the U.S. population is either chronically or temporarily disabled because of back problems.

Spine and back problems are the second most common reason for office visits to primary care physicians and are the most common reasons for office visits to orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and occupational medicine physicians.  Appropriate treatment of these injuries can be delayed by inefficient, uncoordinated cycles of medical office visits to different specialists, often causing patients to wait weeks or months between appointments.

What does the SpineCare Center offer?

With the goal of improving efficiency and continuity of care for spine patients, a team of UF physicians and managers designed the SpineCare Center to provide a comprehensive range of care in a convenient, central location.  At the UF SpineCare Center neck or back injuries will be evaluated and a unique treatment plan will be developed based upon patient needs and appropriate clinical protocols.  Nonoperative plans may include physical therapy and exercise, medications, injections, or psychology services.  If necessary, consultation with a spine surgeon can be arranged.

The UF SpineCare Center provides:

  Acute primary management for all areas of the spine
  Chronic analgesic management program
  Comprehensive rehabilitative services
  Convenient locations for physical therapy
  Electrodiagnostic testing
  Functional capacity evaluations
  Independent medical evaluations
  Minimally invasive and complex surgery
  Myofascial pain management program
  Percutaneous stereotactic spine surgery
  Psychological pain management
  Spinal imaging
  Spinal fusion and instrumentation
  Surgery of the base of the skull
  Therapeutic injections

A team approach

Under the direction of a UF physiatrist (specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation) services are provided using a coordinated approach to care by a multispecialty, multidisciplinary team of UF health care providers including:

  Anesthesiologists
  ARNPs and RNs
  Neurological Surgeons
  Orthopaedic Surgeons
  Psychiatrists
  Physiatrists
  Psychologists
  Physical Therapists
  Radiologists

Types of problems treated:

  Degenerative disc disease
  Fractures
  Herniated discs
  Kyphosis
  Myofascial pain
  Osteoporosis
  Radicular pain (nerve pain)
  Scoliosis
  Spinal arthritis
  Spinal cord injury
  Spinal stenosis
  Spondylosis
  Spondylolisthesis
  Other spinal injuries

SpineCare Center providers and numbers to call to schedule an appointment:

James W. Atchison, D.O.; (Physiatrist); 888/395-BACK or 352/265-9400
  Ephraim Brenman, D.O.; (Physiatrist); 888/395-BACK or 352/265-9400
Glenn Rechtine, II, M.D.; (Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon); 888/395-BACK or 352/265-9400
  Michael Robinson, Ph.D.; (Clinical Psychologist); By referral
Hellena Scott-Okafor, M.D.; (Physiatrist); 888/395-BACK or 352/265-9400
Raymund Woo, M.D.; (Pediatric Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon);888/395-BACK or 352/265-9400

Frequently asked questions.

  What is a D.O.?
        A D.O. is a Doctor of Osteopathy.

  What is a physiatrist?
        A physiatrist is a  physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

  What is the difference between a neurological surgeon and an orthopaedic surgeon (if any)?
        Both are surgeons. Those practicing in the SpineCare Center specialize in the spine. When seeking
        surgical consultation, patients would like to see a specialist who predominantly does spine surgery
        and who can discuss their individual success rate.

Definitions

Osteopathy:  A system of therapy based on the theory that the body is capable of making its own remedies against disease and other toxic conditions when it is in normal structural relationship and has favorable environmental conditions and adequate nutrition.  It utilizes generally accepted physical, medicinal, and surgical methods or diagnosis and therapy, while placing chief emphasis on the importance of normal body mechanics and manipulative methods of detecting and correcting faulty structure.

Physiatrist:  A physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease with the aid of physical agents (such as light, heat, cold, water, and electricity), mechanical apparatus, and/or exercise and functional activities.

Neurosurgeon:  A physician who specializes in surgery of the nervous system.

Orthopaedic Surgeon: A physician who specializes in surgery which is specially concerned with the preservation and restoration of the function of the skeletal system, its articulations and associated structures, including the spine and discs. Orthopedist:  an orthopaedic surgeon.

Author: Butch Landsiedel, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
Updated: 02/17/2001     Last Reviewed: 02/17/2001
Location of Files: http://www.med.ufl.edu/