Before coming to University Orthopedics, Wendi was suffering from a herniated disc that sent excruciating pain shooting down her leg. Debilitated, Wendi struggled to take care of her horses or perform her daily farm chores. She couldn’t stand for any length of time and frequently had to lay down, making things like cooking or participating in family activities difficult.
When anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and injections didn’t solve the issue, UOI’s Dr. Bica referred Wendi to Dr. Bryce Basques, an endoscopic spine surgeon at University Orthopedics specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery.
In the past, the only way to fix an issue like Wendi’s was with spinal fusion, a more involved surgery with a much longer recovery. Dr. Basques is one of just a handful of surgeons in the country who can correct the issue using minimally invasive surgery. Using a small poke hole, he’s able to put an endoscope in the nerve canal and clean out the disc herniation, relieving the pressure that was causing the pain.
Six-months post-surgery, Wendi was back to living her life pain-free. The only sign of her surgery was a faded scar the size of a pen cap.
She says the procedure changed her life.
About Dr. Basques
Dr. Bryce Basques is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon who specializes in spinal disorders such as disc herniations, degenerative cervical, thoracic, lumbar disease, spinal deformity, trauma, and tumors. He also specializes in correcting failed surgery and revision procedures. He has extensive experience with the latest advances in spine surgery, including robotic spine surgery, navigation, minimally invasive spine surgery, outpatient spine surgery, and motion preservation (non-fusion surgery). He tailors the treatment plan to each patient’s needs, with a focus on non-operative management whenever possible.