When Dr. Seoane was growing up in Puerto Rico, he never knew a college degree was optional. As far as he knew it was just another step in his ongoing education. This is hardly surprising considering his father was a professor. Another thing that was never in doubt for him was his choice of degree. “Science has always appealed to me,” explains Dr. Seoane. Unlike some who fell in love with medicine because it was in their family, Dr. Seoane is the first and only person in his family in the medical field.
Although Dr. Seoane is from Puerto Rico, he chose to live and practice in San Antonio for several reasons. He had completed his fellowship in Syracuse New York, and wanted to move away from the cold, snow and ice. “The first year I was there the city had 15 feet of snow. I was completely unprepared for that seeing as I am from Puerto Rico!” He also wanted to teach as a professor, and at the time there were no positions available in his native land. However, there was a position open here in San Antonio. “I moved here and fell completely in love with the city, the people, the ambiance and the culture,” confesses Dr. Seoane. “I’m here for the long haul now,” he explains.
After teaching for several years, it was time for a change. “I wanted to move back into the daily routine of surgery, and actually work with patients, not just teaching others how to do the job,” explains Dr. Seoane. He worked in private practice for several years but in 2004 decided to join up with a group practice. He discovered he would make an excellent fit and addition to the San Antonio Orthopaedic Group. There are several aspects about working with this group that he enjoys. “I like the fact that I can concentrate on the medical aspects of practice, and the group takes care of the business end of things. It is comforting to know that working with and for the group there is some built–in security for me.” Finally, he cites being able to talk to and consult with peers on particularly challenging or difficult cases as a huge perk to working with the San Antonio Orthopaedic Group.
According to Dr. Seoane, the spine and spinal surgery is the most dynamic field to be in at the moment. The medical and technical advances made even in the last 20 years have completely changed the way spines and spinal surgery is approached. “Today we can use micro–techniques to obtain the same, or better results, than were experienced just a decade ago. In the past a fusion was performed to just help the patient gain some movement back. Today we try and help a patient regain a full range of motion if possible.”
As with most surgeons, Dr. Seoane has his areas of specialty, including adult scoliosis or spinal deformities; disc replacement; reconstructive spine surgery and microdisectomy. A microdiscectomy or a micro decompression spine surgery is where a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root is removed to relieve neural impingement and provide more room for the nerve to heal.
Before performing any surgery, Dr. Seoane wants to ensure his patient is comfortable with the proposed procedure. “Surgery is a complex decision, and it is not the answer for every patient who comes through my door,” he explains. “I have to treat each patient differently and even two people who have the same symptoms might require very different treatments. That is the joy of practicing spinal medicine, though.”
The San Antonio Orthopaedic Group has been working closely with Paradigm Spine to finesse a non–fusion spinal implant called coflex®. This device is designed to reduce nerve compression, something many older patients suffer from, and create spinal stability, while simultaneously returning the spine to a more normal state. As Dr. Seoane explains, “This is especially effective for sufferers of spine stenosis. Spine stenosis affects many people as they age, because the spine canal narrows, constricting the nerves, causing pain and numbness in the lumbar region.” The coflex® is implanted and begins working on decompressing the spine. Unlike rods which are large, long and bulky, the coflex® is compact. “This is still fairly new,” says Dr. Seoane, “but we are seeing positive results and we are confident that as more studies are conducted that we will have advanced the field of spinal surgery even further.”
Dr. Seoane also recognizes that surgery is not all that aids a patient in his or her recovery. “I think there is a misconception in the general public, and even among our patients, that they will have the surgery, undergo the recovery time and then everything will be fine and dandy. Surgery is often the first step in along process. Rehabilitation is so important if the patient can even hope to have the quality of life they expect.”
With a teenage daughter, and a love of scuba diving, you’d better believe that Dr. Seoane does everything he can to ensure his own back and spine stay safe. “I love to go scuba diving, and my daughter certainly keeps me busy too,” he says with a smile. “I am blessed. I do something I love every day, and get to enjoy my family and my hobbies too. I don’t take that for granted.”
