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Book: Backbone: The Life and Game-Changing Career of a Spinal Neurosurgeon

Backbone: The Life and Game-Changing Career of a Spinal Neurosurgeon

By Volker K. H. Sonntag MD M.D.

Backbone: The Life and Game-Changing Career of a Spinal Neurosurgeon

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On a beautiful spring morning in 1989, neurosurgeon and spine expert Volker Sonntag was just finishing rounds at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. At that same moment sixteen miles away, a hard-charging boy named TJ veered his bike into the path of a speeding pickup truck. The impact all but killed the boy, leaving him with a shattered leg, severe internal injuries, a massive blood clot near the brain stem, and—but for the fragile spinal cord—a complete separation of the skull from the spine.
This is the riveting story of how Dr. Sonntag’s pioneering innovation that day launched him into the forefront of the emerging field of spinal neurosurgery. Surgeon to a Who’s Who of royalty, celebrities and politicians, his clear-eyed accounts of failures and successes, hostile turf wars, media accusations of quackery, political challenges, and cutting-edge technical advances reveal to the reader just what it takes to be a game-changer in one of the world’s most harrowing professions.
Revered by patients, residents, and fellows for his highly personal approach to teaching and mentorship, and for his example of life balance, in this book Dr. Sonntag also shares stories of his youth as a German immigrant in Cold War America that lend insight into how, with humility, sacrifice, honesty, compassion, industry—and humor—an individual can overcome adversity and achieve the American Dream.

Product Details

  • Published on: 2017-05-02
  • Original language: English
  • Dimensions: 9.00″ h x .60″ w x 6.00″ l,
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 260 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Volker K.H. Sonntag, MD, is vice-chairman emeritus at Barrow Brain and Spine. A world-renowned spinal neurosurgeon, he has been widely acclaimed for his pioneering contributions to the treatment and understanding of spinal disorders and is now a sought after speaker and consultant. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Changing Landscape of Vestibular Schwannoma Management in the United States-A Shift Toward Conservatism.

All patients with a diagnosis of VS were analyzed. Data were described and compared using trend analyses and univariate and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS:

A total of 8330 patients (average age 54.7 years, 51.9% female) were analyzed. The mean incidence was approximately 1.1 per 100,000 per year and did not vary significantly across time; however, from 2004 to 2011, there was a statistically significant decrease in tumor size category at time of diagnosis (P < .01). Overall, 3982 patients (48%) received primary microsurgery, 1978 (24%) radiation therapy alone, and 2370 (29%) observation. Within the microsurgical cohort, 732 (18%) underwent subtotal resection, and of those, 98 (13.4%) received postoperative radiation therapy. Multivariable regression revealed that surgical treatment was more common in younger patients and larger tumor size categories (P < .05). Management trend analysis revealed that microsurgery was used less frequently over time (P < .0001), observation was used more frequently (P < .0001), and the pattern of radiation therapy remained unchanged. Linear regression was used to create an equation that was applied to predict future management practices. These data predict that by 2026, half of all cases of VS will be managed initially with observation.

CONCLUSION:

While the incidence of VS has remained steady, tumor size at time of diagnosis has decreased over time. Within the United States there has been a clear, recent evolution in management toward observation
Carlson ML, Habermann EB, Wagie AE, Driscoll CL, Van Gompel JJ, Jacob JT, Link MJ. The Changing Landscape of Vestibular Schwannoma Management in the United States-A Shift Toward Conservatism. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Jun 30. pii: 0194599815590105. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26129740.