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.

Yoshihiro Katsuura 4/29/25 Yoshihiro Katsuura 4/29/25

Fixing L5-S1: Why It Matters + One Patient’s Comeback

The L5 vertebra is the foundation of motion and strength in the back— when it fails, everything hurts and your quality of life is quickly ruined. In this short, I explain the technical side of L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF), used to repair the L5-S1 segment and how surgery helped one patient walk pain-free again. Dr. Katsuura is a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco.

What is a Spinal Decompression?

Is spinal decompression right for you? In this video, I break down everything you need to know about spinal decompression therapy, including who can benefit from it, the different techniques used (surgical & non-surgical), and the potential risks involved. Whether you're dealing with herniated discs, sciatica, or chronic back pain, understanding your options is key to finding relief.

🔹 Topics Covered:
✔️ Who needs spinal decompression?
✔️ Non-surgical vs. surgical techniques
✔️ Potential risks and considerations