Being recommended for spine surgery should not be a cause for panic even if the entire process surrounding surgery can be long, arduous, and full of stress. For this reason, most people try their best to avoid surgery but more often than not the only treatment that can provide the relief necessary is surgery. The important thing to do is keep your cool and take into account all aspects of undergoing surgery so that it is all smooth sailing. One of these aspects is deciding on a surgeon. BEST Health System has you covered. BEST Health System employs board-certified surgeons who handle surgical procedures efficiently and professionally. This guide will introduce you to Dr. Keith Girton, a surgeon employed at BEST.
Who is Dr. Girton
Dr. Keith Girton has more than 30 years of experience as an orthopaedic surgeon. He graduated from Ohio State University’s College of Medicine in 1974. Following that, he completed residencies in family medicine and orthopaedic surgery before joining the Air Force as an orthopaedic surgeon. During his time with the military, Dr. Girton attained the rank of Major. He’s received board certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Girton specializes in spine surgery and pain management. He has performed countless surgeries and had helped many patients find relief. Dr. Girton has performed surgery on patients from all over the United States, along with a handful of other countries.
Born in Ohio himself, Dr. Girton is passionate to be practicing and helping the people of his home state. His primary goal is to give patients their lives back using high-quality, minimally invasive care and treatment standards.
What Dr. Girton Can Do For You
Dr. Girton specializes in a variety of surgical procedures as one of our board-certified surgeons. The following are just a few of the surgeries he can perform:
Lumbar Discectomy
From the neck (cervical) to the low back (lumbar), discectomies can be performed anywhere along the spine. From the back (posterior) of the spine, the surgeon reaches the damaged disc through the muscles and bones. An area of the lamina is removed by the surgeon to gain access to the disc. Over the spinal cord, the lamina forms a roof and forms the backside of the spinal canal. Next, the spinal nerve is retracted to one side. Depending on your particular case, one disc (single-level) or more (multi-level) may be removed.
Foraminotomy
A foraminotomy involves enlarging the area around one of the bones in the spinal column. The surgery relieves pressure on compressed nerves. Your spinal column is made up of a chain of bones called vertebrae. The intervertebral discs sit above and below the flat portion of each vertebra to provide support.
Dr. Girton also specializes in imaging diagnostics as well such as:
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, provides high-resolution images of the inside of the body when performed by medical professionals. Although similar to an X-ray in that it can view the inside of the body in a non-invasive way, an MRI is generally used to provide images of soft tissue, rather than bone. This is the preferred method to diagnose spine and joint conditions that aren’t fractured.
X-Ray
Radiation caused by electromagnetic waves is known as an X-ray. Imaging the inside of the body using X-ray devices serves an important diagnostic function for physicians. X-ray imagery works due to different forms of tissue in the body absorbing radiation at different rates.
Every patient is treated with the expert care they deserve by Dr. Girton. His passion for helping patients shines through in everything he does. These are just a few of the procedures Dr. Girton can do but he is proficient in other areas as well, feel free to contact us with any questions about Dr. Girton and the procedures he does.
BEST Can Help You
Dr. Girton is known for his overall care for his patients. He strives to provide his patients with the relief necessary for them to get back to the things they love. If you choose Dr. Girton to be your surgeon, rest assured you are in good hands. Dr. Girton has performed countless surgeries and is proficient in different methods of imaging diagnostic, such as MRI and X-ray.
We understand that undergoing surgery can be a very difficult decision but BEST Health System and Dr. Girton have you covered. Our procedures are minimally invasive, meaning we only use a one-inch incision which is much more beneficial than traditional open spine surgery. The benefits of minimally invasive include a shorter recovery time and no overnight hospital stay. In addition, the procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Minimally invasive has the added benefit of being less likely to have complications and lowers the risk of infection.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. Girton, BEST Health System, or schedule an appointment, contact us today!
