Patient Cases

While Dr. Oskouian’s practice addresses multiple spinal conditions, he is particularly interested in correction of spinal deformities, from scoliosis to deformities caused by metastatic tumors involving the spine. 

Case 1

This patient presented to clinic for evaluation of her spine, describing a twenty-year history of prior back surgeries.  When she was initially seen, she reported constant pain through her entire back, as well as down her legs.  This pain caused such a severe difficulty with walking that much of her day was spent in a wheelchair.  After failing to see any improvement with conservative measures, she sought specialty treatment of her pain with a pain management specialist.  Pre-operative imaging demonstrated a curve in her lower spine (thoracolumbar) of 58 degrees, a compensatory curve in her middle spine (thoracic) of 33 degrees, and a forward curve (kyphotic curve) of 53 degrees.  Her curvature affected both her gastrointestinal tract, as well as her pulmonary system, making breathing challenging.

case 2

This patient presented with a rapidly progressive eight-month history of debilitating pain that had significantly impacted her active lifestyle.  In clinic, her pain was mainly isolated to the left hip and leg, but activity, such as her usual daily golfing and gardening, dramatically increased the pain.  Injections, physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and massage therapy all failed to improve her pain.  Pre-operative imaging revealed a scoliotic curve in the lower spine (lumbar) of 46 degrees with severe compression of the nerve roots to the left leg.

case 3

This patient presented to clinic with a known history of progressive scoliosis, though pain had only been severe enough to negatively affect her lifestyle for the past two years.  While her low back constantly ached, it was her left leg pain that impacted her life the most, making walking difficult to the point where she had to rely on a walker to make it any distance.  Injections provided only temporary relief and despite an increase of pain with physical therapy, she stuck with it for a year and a half.  Pre-operative imaging demonstrated a left sided curvature in the lower spine (lumbar) of 55 degrees with a compensatory curve in the middle back (thoracic) of 19 degrees.