Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute’s Jonathan G. Hobbs, M.D., M.S., recently spoke with Becker’s Spine Review about the future of personalized spine surgery and what it will take to make advanced treatment accessible to more patients.
The feature follows a procedure Dr. Hobbs performed at Northwest Health – Porter in Valparaiso: a two-level lumbar fusion combining spinal cages and rods designed specifically for one patient. As announced by LBJI, it was the first procedure in the United States to combine Carlsmed’s patient-specific aprevo® TLIF cages with Medtronic’s patient-specific UNiD™ rods across two levels.
Planning Spine Surgery Around the Patient
For this procedure, the patient’s imaging guided the design of both the cages and rods before surgery. This approach helps translate a detailed surgical plan into implants tailored to the patient’s anatomy.
In the Becker’s interview, Dr. Hobbs explained that individualized planning deserves attention across a range of spinal conditions, including degenerative changes.
“Patients with degenerative disease deserve the same rigor in planning that we bring to complex deformity surgery,” he told Becker’s.
Dr. Hobbs also emphasized the importance of evaluating new technology carefully. While patient-specific implants offer another tool for surgical planning, continued research is needed to determine how they affect long-term recovery, fusion, and the need for additional surgery.
Bringing Advanced Spine Care Closer to Home
For Dr. Hobbs, expanding access means considering how appropriately equipped community hospitals can offer advanced care safely.
“A patient in a rural community deserves the same consideration for advanced treatment as a patient living near a major academic center,” Dr. Hobbs told Becker’s.
His perspective reflects LBJI’s commitment to personalized care in Northwest Indiana. A board-certified neurosurgeon, Dr. Hobbs treats spinal tumors, deformity, degenerative conditions, and complex and revision spine conditions. His approach begins with a complete evaluation, including consideration of nonsurgical care when appropriate.
Whether treatment involves conservative care or surgery, the focus remains on the patient’s symptoms, daily activities, and long-term needs.
To explore your spine care options, contact Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Hobbs.
Read Dr. Hobbs’ full interview in Becker’s Spine Review: https://www.beckersspine.com/spine/personalized-implants-could-be-a-spine-standard-access-is-a-hurdle/