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From playing baseball at the University of Tennessee to flying fighter jets on four continents and having a 27-year career as an airline captain, Steve Wieland has led an incredible life. But by the age of 65, he found himself completely helpless. He was unable to walk and was losing function in his hands to the point that he could not feed himself. It would take timing, technology, surgical expertise and rehabilitation to give Steve a new life. 

Today, the use of minimally invasive techniques has expanded to include spinal fusion surgery, which is used to stabilize the spine and reduce or eliminate pain in the lower back and lower extremities. Traditionally, fusion surgery involved an open approach with longer hospital stays and months of recovery. A new minimally invasive option now utilized by our practice is MAS PLIF (Maximum Access Surgery posterior lumbar interbody fusion).

Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates recently welcomed the physicians, staff and offices of Nova Neurosurgical Brain & Spine Specialists to our practice. With this expansion into the Triad area and the opening of our new Matthews office, our practice now has 46 physicians and nine office locations that span from Rock Hill to Greensboro.

Lifesaving neuroendovascular treatment is now available in Greensboro with the addition of fellowship-trained neurosurgeon Neelesh Nundkumar, MD. He is the first and only neurosurgeon in the Greensboro area to offer minimally invasive endovascular treatment for neurovascular disorders.

For decades, Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates has made a difference for children in need of neurosurgical care, and this commitment remains steadfast. As Dr. Michael Heafner nears retirement at the end of 2014, our pediatric neurosurgery program is well-positioned for the future with the recent addition of Scott Wait, MD, and Mark Van Poppel, MD. These highly trained surgeons join Scott McLanahan, MD, in working closely with Levine Children’s Hospital to deliver advanced neurosurgical treatment options for children. 

The physicians and staff of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates continue to reach out around the world to provide much needed medical care to developing countries. Most recently, physiatrist John Welshofer, MD, and Evelyn Chakarji, CMA, traveled to Nicaragua with a mission trip coordinated by BlessBack Worldwide.

Sarah Arnder didn’t realize she had scoliosis when she first went to see neurosurgeon Kevin Cahill, MD, and orthopaedic spine surgeon Samuel Chewning, MD, at the Concord office of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates. The 62-year-old retired nurse was using a cane because she had difficulty standing. Over the last three years her spine had begun to turn and push her forward so that her stance was always unstable. Sarah also suffered from disabling back and leg pain. 

Sports concussions have become a fixture in the headlines, with a greater emphasis being placed on injury prevention for athletes at all levels. While football is a major focus, athletes in many other sports remain at risk of concussion. "Although football accounts for the majority of concussions in this community, girls soccer, and cheerleading cause a surprising number of concussions," said David Wiercisiewski, MD, a Physical Medicine, and Rehabilitation specialist at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates and director of the Carolina Sports Concussion Program.