Dissection: A Spine Blog

X-ray of cervical spine with surgical implants and annotations on cervical lordosis and vertebral alignment.

Dissecting the latest in spine health and life at Dr. Katsuura’s Spine Clinic.

I try to share interesting and educational concepts in spine care and focus on the joy of medicine and surgery.

This blog is 100% human produced.

Illustration of a spinal segmental unit showing two vertebrae, an intervertebral disc, pedicle, lamina, facet joint, and vertebral body, with labeled parts.
What is a Total Disc Replacement?
Yoshihiro Katsuura Yoshihiro Katsuura

What is a Total Disc Replacement?

Discover Advanced Relief with Cervical Disc Replacement – Dr. Katsuura, Leading Spine Surgeon in Marin & Sonoma
Looking for a motion-preserving alternative to spinal fusion? Dr. Katsuura, a top spine surgeon serving Marin and Sonoma counties, specializes in cervical disc replacement—a cutting-edge solution for neck pain, herniated discs, and degenerative disc disease. Learn how this minimally invasive procedure can help you get back to living pain-free with better mobility and faster recovery.

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Imagine Having a Marble Stuck in Your Back
Yoshihiro Katsuura Yoshihiro Katsuura

Imagine Having a Marble Stuck in Your Back

Dr. Katsuura, a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco treats a wide range of back and neck conditions in his spinal clinic. He is an expert in minimally invasive, reconstructive and motion preserving procedures.

Here we recount the story of a patient with a marble sized disc herniation in her back causing extreme pain. Learn how we restored her back to full mobility.

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How Pain Works
Yoshihiro Katsuura Yoshihiro Katsuura

How Pain Works

Pain is often frightening and difficult to deal with. Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura, a spine expert, explains how pain works to the patients he treats for spinal disorders in Novato, Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino.

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Spine 101: Why Your Spine Matters
Yoshihiro Katsuura Yoshihiro Katsuura

Spine 101: Why Your Spine Matters

In this video Dr. Katsuura discusses some of the basics of back and neck pain and covers topics such as:

-Why your spine matters.
-What happens to your spine as you age.
-What are some of the common treatments for typical spinal issues.

Dr. Katsuura breaks down and demystifies some of the misconceptions in spinal treatment. Enjoy!

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