2009 Annual Assembly & Technical Exhibition

Austin, Texas

October 22-25, 2009

Track: Musculoskeletal Medicine

Thursday, October 22          1:30–3:00 pm     Level: Intermediate

A Pain in the Butt: An Evidence-Based Approach to the Evaluation and Management of Gluteal Region Pain

K. Barr, MD; C. Fitzgerald, MD; M. Harrast, MD; M. Kaufman, MD; A. Phelan, MD, DVM

This session will present an evidence-based approach, and some of its inherent controversies, to the differential diagnosis and management of gluteal region pain. Focal bone, joint, and soft-tissue sources will be presented along with the referred sources of pain in the gluteal/posterior pelvic region.

Sunday, October 25             9:15–10:45 am   Level: Advanced

Head, Neck, and Facial Pain: Advanced Physiatric Assessment and Treatment

T. Annaswamy, MD, MA; B. Bruel, MD, MBA; C. Lin, MD; K. Trivedi, DO

Presenters will discuss the evaluation and management of complex head and neck syndromes that commonly present in physiatric spine practices. Biomechanical and neuropathic head and neck syndromes will be discussed, as well as treatment approaches, both interventional and conservative. Advanced therapeutics of facial pain syndromes will also be presented.

Track: Rehabilitation Topics

Thursday, October 22          8–9:00 am         Level: Basic

Focused Session: Palliative Rehabilitation: Optimizing Function at the End of Life

B. Bruel, MD, MBA; J. Fu, MD; S. Vattam, MD

Course speakers will discuss the role of the physiatrist at the end of life for some of their patients. Principles of symptom control and rehabilitation for terminal cancer/AIDS/geriatric patients will be highlighted, as well as updates in the management of pain in these populations.

Track: Spine/Spinal Cord Injury

Thursday, October 22 3:15-4:45 pm       Level: Intermediate

Providing Sexual Health Care for Persons With Spinal Cord Injury  

L. Goetz, MD; S. Sabharwal, MD; M. Tepper, PhD, MPH

This session will provide clinicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to help persons with spinal cord injury achieve optimal sexual health.

Sunday, October 25     7:30–9:00 am             Level: Intermediate

Trends in Utilization, Outcomes, and Predictors of Outcomes in Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections

T. Annaswamy, MD, MA; S. Bierner, MD, MRM; B. Bruel, MD, MBA

This course will provide an updated review of evidence for use of cervical epidural steroid injections (ESI) for treating radicular pain. Evidence basis for short- and long-term benefits will be discussed. The pros and cons of using different routes of administration of ESI, such as transforaminal and interlaminar approaches, will be discussed. The relative differences in outcomes with the above approaches will be outlined, and side effect and complication profiles of all techniques will be discussed. The course will describe current trends in cervical ESI utilization around the country, and the implications of geographic variations in practice patterns will be discussed. A summary of the literature and the evidence base on outcome predictors of cervical ESI will be presented, and the utility and reliability of electromyography as a predictor of outcomes after cervical ESI will be discussed.

Resident Poster Presentations

Saturday, October 24   9:30–11:00 am

Erin Wheeler Derbigny, M.D.

    Root Avulsion and Abnormal EMG Findings after C6, 7, and T1 Fractures: A Case Report

Andrew Morchower, M.D.

    An Innovative Approach to Managing Intrathecal Baclofen Withdrawal: A Case Study

Poonam Ochani, M.D.

    An Atypical Case of Slowly Progressive Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in a 79-Year-Old Patient: A Case Report