Dissection: A Spine Blog
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.
Understanding Prior Authorization
Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura, a board certified orthopedic spine surgeon located in Novato, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco and Mendocino explains how insurance prior authorizations can impact your health care delivery. He is an expert in minimally invasive spine surgery and non-operative spine care.
Beating the Odds: From Complex Spine Surgery to Recovery
Discover how patients recover from complex spine surgery at our practice serving Novato, Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma, and Mendocino. From minimally invasive procedures to advanced spinal reconstructions, Dr. Yoshihiro Katsuura offers the most innovative techniques in spine surgery. Learn what recovery looks like after complex cases and how modern approaches can help patients get back to their active lives.
Learn About Ultra-Minimally-Invasive Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Discover how endoscopic spine surgery helps patients in Marin, Novato, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Sonoma find lasting relief from back and neck pain. This minimally invasive technique reduces recovery time, minimizes scarring, and gets you back to your active lifestyle faster than traditional spine surgery.
Possible to Run 100 Miles After Lumbar Fusion Surgery?
When an ultramarathon runner faced debilitating back pain, Marin spine surgeon Dr. Katsuura delivered a game-changing, minimally invasive solution. Discover how advanced spine care got this elite athlete back on the trail—fast
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.
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