Artificial Disc Replacement – Promising New Treatment for Back Pain

Timothy Treible, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. For the better part of three decades, he has served patients in the Portland, Oregon, area. Dr. Timothy Treible practiced at the East Portland Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic and performed a wide range of spinal procedures, including artificial disc replacement.

Patients who suffer from severe low back, or lumbar, pain, whose conditions are not resolved by noninvasive procedures over a period of six months or more, may be candidates for spinal surgery. Artificial disc replacement (ADR) refers to procedures for replacing the discs between spinal vertebrae. The discs act as cushions or spacers between the bones and keep them from rubbing together or pinching spinal nerves. First available to patients in 2004, this approach is gaining popularity as a way to reduce chronic back pain by replacing damaged discs.

Artificial disc replacement provides some advantages over spinal fusions, another surgical approach commonly used in cases of severe low back pain. It allows for a speedier return to normal mobility following surgery, and it generally facilitates a more mobile spine. This is because spinal fusions are literally hard connections of adjacent spinal bones, which reduces movement. Although ADR is much newer than fusions and bears more clinical study, it is worth exploring for those considering surgical remedies for their back pain.

An Overview of the Chief Resident Position

Timothy Treible, MD, completed the Medical College of Wisconsin Orthopedic Residency program after graduating from the institution with his medical degree. During his orthopedic residency, Dr. Timothy Treible was named chief resident. He practiced at East Portland Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic, diagnosing and treating complex orthopedic issues.

The responsibilities of a chief resident at a hospital or medical facility can vary significantly depending on the nature of the resident’s post. The chief resident in a pediatric program, for example, will be tasked with several jobs relating directly to child and infant health care, whereas the chief resident of a chemical dependency program will not often interact with such young patients.

A chief resident at any facility, however, is charged with the overall well being of all patients under his or her supervision. The chief resident role is one of both medical and administrative leadership, extending from the oversight of day-to-day clinic operations to operating room decisions.

Making rounds is one of the most common parts of a chief resident’s job. During morning rounds, chief residents assist other residents and personnel teams in organizing their patient schedules and workloads for the day while evening rounds are often utilized as teaching opportunities.