Vascular Anatomy of the Brain

 

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Image: pnwu.edu

Dr. Michael Thomas, neurosurgeon and owner of Cascade Neurosurgical Associates, has presented a number of lectures on brain and spinal anatomy and physiology. In 2010, he lectured on vascular anatomy and pathology of the cerebrum at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Washington.

In the human body, the vertebral arteries and internal carotid arteries are responsible for delivering adequate blood supply to the brain. The internal carotid arteries originate proximate to the fourth cervical vertebrae and enter the cranial cavity through the carotid canal. At the cavernous sinus, it generates arteries that supply certain cerebral and orbital structures, then becomes the middle cerebral artery to deliver blood to the lateral cerebrum.

The vertebral arteries, meanwhile, develop from the subclavian arteries and travel up through the posterior neck though the cervical vertebrae’s transverse processes.After passing into the cranial cavity, they generate branches that supply the cerebellum, spinal cord, and falx cerebelli, then come together to form the basilar artery.

Both arteries then converge to form a structure known as the Circle of Willis. This structure includes the anterior and posterior cerebral arteries as well as the internal carotid arteries. The circle connects via the anterior and posterior communicating arteries, which play key roles in coordinating blood supply to the cerebrum.

The American College of Osteopathic Surgeons’ Mentor Match Program

Mentor Match Program
Image: facos.org

Neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Thomas works as a neurosurgical spine doctor at the Advanced Orthopedic Institute, one of the country’s leading orthopedic spinal practices. In addition to his duties as a neurosurgeon for the Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute, Dr. Michael Thomas maintains affiliation with the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS). The organization supports ongoing medical education through its ACOS Mentor Match Program.

A mentoring resource designed to provide students, residents, and new surgeons-in-practice with a yearlong mentoring experience from seasoned medical professionals already established in their disciplines. The program serves as a matching service that pairs students, residents, and new surgeons with mentors who will share their knowledge and contribute toward the future of the osteopathic surgical community. Mentees and mentors are matched according to compatibility, and pairings may vary according to the number of registrations submitted. Furthermore, the scope of mentoring will depend upon arrangements made between mentor and mentee. Mentoring sessions can consist of phone calls, emails, or in-person meetings.

CNS Announces New Executive Committee Members

Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Image: cns.org

Dr. Michael Thomas practices as a neurosurgeon in Orlando, Florida. In addition to his day-to-day work as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Thomas maintains membership with such professional groups as the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) recently announced three new members elected to its Executive Committee: Brian V. Nahed, MD, MS; Nader Pouratian, MD, PhD; and Martina Stippler, MD. Each will serve on the committee for two years.

Based in Boston, Dr. Nahed serves as associate director of the Neurosurgery Residency Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and is a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He has been a leading voice in the development of many CNS clinical guidelines and has written numerous articles published in peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Pouratian practices at UCLA’s Neurosurgery Center, where he focuses his research on advancing neuroimaging techniques. Also interested in nerve and brain mapping, he hopes to design technology to assist patients who experience severe language and motor deficiencies.

Dr. Stippler directs the neurotrauma program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and is a visiting faculty member at Harvard Medical School. In addition to her post as a reviewer for the Journal of Neurotrauma, she undertakes research aimed at predicting brain swelling and improving imaging of mild traumatic brain injuries.

OMED 2017 – The 122nd Osteopathic Medical Conference and Exposition

 

Osteopathic Medical Conference and Exposition
Image: omed.osteopathic.org

Since 2015, Dr. Michael Thomas has practiced as a neurosurgeon at the Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute in Orlando, Florida. Regarded for his experience with minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Michael Thomas belongs to several professional organizations, including the American Osteopathic Association.

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) maintains a commitment to advancing the field of osteopathic medicine through dedicated research, education, and practice. For more than 100 years, the association has provided resources to its members, more than 123,000 and counting, to help them continue their education and more positively impact the lives of their patients. One way the AOA achieves this is through holding an annual meeting.

The 122nd Osteopathic Medical Conference and Exposition (OMED) will convene in October 7-10, 2017, in Philadelphia. A broad selection of sessions and trainings will allow attendees to customize their experience at the four-day event, and they will have the opportunity to earn as many as 40 continuing medical education (CME) hours. For details on registration and exhibition deadlines for OMED 2017, visit www.osteopathic.org.

An Overview of AOA’s National Osteopathic Advocacy Center

American Osteopathic Association (AOA)

 

A board-certified and fellow-trained neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Thomas treats patients as a neurosurgical spine specialist at Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute in Plantation, Florida. Beyond his day-to-day activities as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Thomas maintains memberships in several professional organizations, including the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

In addition to working to advance the knowledge and skills of its members, AOA oversees a variety of advocacy programs and activities to strengthen the osteopathic profession and promote the rights of all osteopathic physicians. The headquarters for the organization’s work in this area is the National Osteopathic Advocacy Center (NOAC), located in Washington, DC.

Created in 2012 with financial assistance from AOA members and other supporters, the NOAC is located on Vermont Avenue less than a half mile from the White House. The center includes offices for AOA government relations staff and visiting osteopathic physicians, as well as a full kitchen and multifunctional conference space.

The NOAC’s central location and state-of-the-art facilities make it an ideal gathering place for activities related to DO Day on Capitol Hill, an AOA advocacy event that brings osteopathic physicians and medical students to Washington, DC, each spring. For more information about the center and AOA’s advocacy efforts, visit www.osteopathic.org.

Tips for Glacier Hiking

Glacier Hiking
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Dr. Michael Thomas is a neurosurgeon with nearly 20 years of experience. He practices at Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute in Plantation, Florida. Outside his work as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Thomas enjoys a number of outdoor activities, including glacier hiking.

While hiking on a glacier can be an exhilarating experience, there are dangers to consider. It’s also a strenuous pursuit. Here are three tips for novice glacier climbers to keep in mind.

It’s important to have a realistic and healthy respect of crevasses. They aren’t always easily spotted. Newcomers should already have adequate knowledge and experience constructing z-pulley rescue systems and know how to conduct a crevasse rescue before ever setting foot on a glacier. Everyone in the hiking party should have this experience as well.

The flow of a glacier is in a constant state of transition. A team may make its way along one patch to the base of a climb and find itself having to construct a new route on the way back because of the glacier’s shift. Always keep in mind the flow of the glacier and its tendency toward change.

Both newcomers and experienced glacier climbers should be aware of where crampons are placed. For winter excursions, the group should always be roped together and in teams of three when possible. If and when one of the team members falls into a crevasse, the others should use their ice axes to dig in and keep the person from falling any further before the rescue operation begins.

Back Pain – Surgical Procedures

Back Pain – Surgical Procedures
Image: WebMD.com

A neurosurgeon with decades of experience, Dr. Michael Thomas completed the University of Miami’s Spine Fellowship Program. At his current practice in Florida, Dr. Michael Thomas focuses on minimally invasive procedures to address trauma and other problems of the spine.

When patients challenged by back pain prove unresponsive to conservative options involving medication and physical therapy, they may be candidates for surgical procedures designed to provide relief. Unfortunately, not all patients that undergo such surgeries experience relief, and doctors may have a difficult time discerning which patients will benefit from surgery.

Spinal fusion, a procedure to address lower back pain, involves permanently fusing vertebrae. This fusion prevents the vertebrae from moving. Though spinal fusion may relieve pain, it is unlikely to completely eliminate chronic back pain even in patients that respond well. Spinal fusion compromises range of motion in that it locks vertebrae in place.

Alternative options include disc replacement, during which a neurosurgeon implants an artificial disc in place of a compromised spinal disc. When compared to spinal fusion, disc replacement may reduce recovery time and does not compromise range of motion to the same extent. However, disc replacement is relatively new, meaning there has been less time to conduct long-term studies on the procedure’s outcomes as compared to spinal fusion outcomes.

The Numerous Health Benefits of Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing
Image: healthfitnessrevolution.com

Dr. Michael Thomas is a neurosurgeon in Orlando Florida who focuses on minimally invasive spine surgery. Outside his work as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Thomas enjoys rock climbing.

Rock climbing has proven to be beneficial to one’s physical and mental health. Though it is a difficult sport, the physical effort it requires can help a person gain strength in the arms, shoulders, thigh muscles, back, neck, and forearms. Rock climbing exercises nearly every muscle group in the body, resulting in improvements to each group’s strength, endurance, and speed. Just one hour of climbing can burn over 700 calories, making it a great exercise for both weight loss and muscle building.

Rock climbing also helps people by requiring them to set goals and accomplish them. Accomplishing goals can result in a significant boost in confidence. Because rock climbing requires so much focus on the task at hand, it can help people become more aware of themselves and their surroundings. It can even relieve stress and boost brain function because it requires use of problem-solving skills. Research on rock climbing continues to reveal the numerous health benefits of this sport.

Techniques and Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
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Dr. Michael Thomas, a neurosurgeon in private practice, has 25 years of professional experience. In that time, neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Thomas has developed and pursued a focus on minimally invasive spinal surgery.

By definition, minimally invasive spinal surgery indicates a procedure that uses special equipment to reduce the disturbance to surrounding tissue. The term is applicable to a number of individual procedures, including vertebral fusion and decompression, though most make use of a tool called a tubular retractor. This small device passes through soft tissue and spreads the muscles so that the surgeon can insert the necessary devices that allow him or her to perform the specific procedure. Fluoroscopic images of the patient’s tissues guide the surgeon’s movements and magnify the surgical area.

These techniques allow surgeons to offer common surgical interventions with less blood loss and reduced risk of damage to the muscle. Many patients experience less postoperative pain and thus need less medication to control discomfort. Rehabilitation is often faster as compared to traditional surgery, while the use of a smaller incision minimizes scarring.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion – A Proven Spinal Surgery Approach

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Image: spine-health.com

Dr. Michael Thomas is a respected neurosurgeon who maintained a general practice in Washington state for more than 15 years. Dr. Michael Thomas recently augmented his qualifications as Board Certified Neurosurgeon through a University of Miami spine fellowship that focused on major deformity correction and minimally invasive surgical techniques. As a speaker at the AANS/CNS Joint Section for Spine and Peripheral Nerve in Phoenix in 2015, Dr. Thomas talked on the subject of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) surgery.

First developed in the 1950s, ALIF was held back from development as a standard procedure by relatively large nonunion rates in the 30 to 40 percent range. In the 1990s, the development of threaded titanium cages, which were superior in holding the disc space, resulted in higher ALIF fusion rates. This success in turn resulted in an upsurge in ALIF treatments, which, unlike posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), involve approaching the spine via the abdomen rather the lower back.

A main advantage of ALIF is that it leaves the nerves and muscles of the back undisturbed. Unfortunately, ALIF alone is not always adequate, and it is often undertaken in tandem with a posterior PLIF approach.