Trauma Week Day Three

December 11, 2024 with Neurosurgeon

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Today, we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Amber Gordon, a neurosurgeon at Mobile Infirmary. She shared her impressive journey, which included four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, and six years of residency to become a neurosurgeon. Dr. Gordon specializes in the brain, spine, and nervous system. Her passion for neurosurgery began in high school, inspired by her chemistry teacher, who shared his love for the field, which he had inherited from his daughter.

We also continued working with a seventeen-year-old patient who had been injured in an ATV accident. The ER team requested a neuro consult to assess the neurological issues. Dr. Gordon diagnosed the patient with an unstable lumbar burst fracture, classifying her as an ASIA-A patient. This classification, based on the ASIA scale, means that the patient has no motor function, no sensation, and no sacral sparing.

As part of a hands-on activity, I had the chance to assist in placing a screw into the spine. For injuries like this, surgery typically involves removing damaged bone, replacing it with bone grafts and cement, and stabilizing the area with screws and rods, which act like an internal cast. It can take six months to a year for the spine to fully fuse. We also learned the steps involved in placing a screw during spinal fusion surgery: first, a hole is made in the bone; then, a wider rod is used to deepen the hole; after that, a screw is inserted, leaving just a millimeter of space between the screw and the nerve.

Post-surgery, patients go through a recovery period during which they wear a TLSO (thoracolumbosacral orthosis) brace. During this time, they are restricted from driving, bending, lifting, or twisting and are not allowed to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds.