Distinctly Montana Magazine

65 w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m "I think the world of him and his team," Gary says. "They were so good to me." Dr. Russo says that without intervention, there was concern that Gary was at risk of progressive neurological deficits. The first surgery was to mitigate the infection. Dr. Russo says Gary responded well to that surgery, but he required follow- up care to completely clear the infection. "I spent a lot of time in the hospital," Gary says. And Gary required a second surgery. "Unfortunately, the infection did enough damage to his spine that he developed severe back pain," says Dr. Russo. "Once it was safe to reconstruct his spine, he had the second procedure to address the structural damage from the infection." Gary and his wife, Debbie, appreciated Dr. Russo's extensive clinical interest and expertise, but they also appreciated his honesty throughout the process. "He tells it like it is, and we respect that about him," Gary says. Patient education is important to Dr. Russo. He takes the time to tell his patients about their condition and the available options, whether it's surgery or a non-operative treatment. "I want them to understand what each option entails so they can make a truly informed decision about their course of care," he says. "That also includes ensuring they have reasonable expectations for the treatment results. We try to help patients decide on a course of care that has a reasonable chance of treating their condition in a manner they are comfortable with." Many patients view surgery as a last resort, and Dr. Russo and the team at the Spine Institute maximize non-operative care when possible. But for Gary, the infection and the damage it caused required a surgical solution. "If non-operative care fails, or is not safe to try, then we try to thoroughly educate patients about the surgical treatment and its associated recovery and rehabilitation, so the patient has reasonable expectations for the recovery process and ultimate outcomes," Dr. Russo says. Gary says that's exactly how he felt going into his second surgery last September — well-informed. Since then, Gary has made a remarkable recovery. He could barely walk before he was hospitalized, and now he is working through his physical therapy, just like the doctor ordered. His sciatica is gone, and his ability to walk has greatly improved. Gary says Dr. Russo entered the exam room at his six- month follow-up appointment with a smile on his face after seeing the X-rays. "I was treated well from beginning to end," Gary says. "Now I'm thinking about what seems possible. We are retired and looking forward to camping again." He recently took his first fishing trip in over a year. "I trust him to go fishing now," Debbie says. "I think Dr. Russo and Kaytlin gave him his life back." Dr. Russo has been practicing in Montana since 2008, often helping patients with complex conditions of the spine get the care they need without leaving the state. He has more than 20 years of experience treating complex issues of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar areas of the spine, including degenerative conditions, deformities, and traumatic injuries. To make an appointment with Dr. Russo, call 406-455-3650. He sees patients in both Great Falls and Helena. Benefis.org/Spine Gary Stevenson was in a great deal of pain. He was suffering from an epidural abscess — an infection in the spinal area — that was causing pain, along with leg weakness Gary was hospitalized, and his Benefis care team sought the expertise of orthopedic surgeon Anthony Russo, MD, who also serves as medical director of the Benefis Spine Institute. Gary says Dr. Russo was highly recommended, and when he met Dr. Russo and physician assistant Kaytlin Deveney, he quickly saw why. Benefis Spine Institute Patient Rediscovers What's Possible

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