Norton Leatherman Spine is the premier destination for patients in Louisville, Southern Indiana and beyond suffering from cervical spinal stenosis and cervical myelopathy.

Loss of strength and sensation in the hands, frequently dropping things, or poor coordination and unsteady gait can all be signs of cervical myelopathy. Trouble using your hands and difficulty walking doesn’t need to permanently interfere with your function. Patients with these signs of cervical myelopathy can often be greatly improved with surgical treatment.

Our skilled physicians have the experience to identify the right treatment for a broad range of spinal conditions — including the most complicated problems and also more common, but serious problems, like cervical myelopathy that can affect both younger and older patients.

Our specialists know that surgery isn’t right for everyone. We’ll evaluate your case and give you a treatment plan customized for you. If simpler treatments don’t work, and relief will come only from an operation, you’ll want surgeons with the most experience and expertise.

International Reputation for Excellence

As the most comprehensive spine care team in the region, we routinely care for patients with potentially serious problems such as cervical myelopathy. In selecting the best treatment plan for cervical spinal stenosis timing may be important, because cervical myelopathy is much easier to prevent than it is to repair.

If surgery is required, some patients with cervical spinal stenosis can be treated by limited decompression of the involved nerves. In other cases, associated problems such as kyphosis or multilevel involvement create the need for more involved procedures. Norton Leatherman Spine specialists have the experience and expertise to select the right procedure the first time. This helps to avoid poor outcomes or the need for additional surgeries.

Cervical Decompression

Depending on your case, our surgeons may perform a minimally invasive decompression to remove the overgrown ligament or bone spurs that cause your pain and difficulty with walking.

In a minimally invasive procedure, we make smaller incisions through which we can relieve the cervical spinal stenosis. This eases pressure on the nerves and helps relieve pain.

A smaller incision means you can get back on your feet faster and resume living your life.

Cervical Decompression and Fusion

With spinal instability problems such as cervical spondylolisthesis or cervical kyphosis, your surgeon may need to restore spinal stability and alignment, in order to allow effective decompression of the nerves and spinal cord. Norton Leatherman Spine surgeons have the training and experience to perform these procedures safely and effectively.

New advances such as robotic-assisted spinal surgery and computer-assisted navigation used at Norton Leatherman Spine allow for these more complicated procedures, with less recovery time and less postoperative pain. Decompression and fusion reduces pain and restores function by removing bone and ligament overgrowth compressing the nerves, while maintaining the spinal stability needed for full function.

Making It Easy to Get Back to Your Life

• With six Norton Leatherman Spine locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana, we have specialists near you.
• We use minimally invasive procedures that can reduce recovery time and reduce the risk of complications.
• Sophisticated pain management aims to keep you comfortable and safe.
• Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free MyNortonChart account.

About Norton Leatherman Spine

Norton Leatherman Spine in Louisville and Southern Indiana offers world-class care from surgeons who are recognized nationally and internationally for their innovation, expertise and skill. Norton Leatherman Spine is one of the premier research and education programs in the United States for spinal surgeons.

Our rich history traces back to Kenton D. Leatherman, M.D., who more than 50 years ago became the first orthopedic surgeon in Kentucky to specialize in spine care. A University of Louisville School of Medicine graduate, he developed leading-edge approaches to treating scoliosis after World War II.

• The board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists at Norton Leatherman Spine are among the most experienced in the country, treating conditions like yours for an average of 20 years.
• We have orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons providing care from our offices in downtown Louisville and surrounding counties.
• Our physicians pinpoint your diagnosis to come up with the right treatment plan, including surgical and nonsurgical options as appropriate.
• We offer minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures that carry less risk and can speed your recovery. Norton Leatherman Spine surgeons are actively involved in the development of next generation minimally invasive technologies.
• The physicians at Norton Leatherman are leaders in their field and train the next generation of specialists. Norton Leatherman Spine’s physicians trained more than 100 of the leading spine surgeons practicing throughout the U.S. today.
• Techniques developed at Norton Leatherman Spine have produced better outcomes for patients with fewer side effects and are routinely performed around the world today.

Our team performs more than 4,000 surgeries a year, and patients come to our providers more than 30,000 times a year.