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Meet Dr. Clavenna

Dr. Andrew L. Clavenna joined the Carrell Clinic in 2006 as a board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery. In addition to traditional spine procedures, Dr. Clavenna’s expertise includes the latest in spinal surgery techniques including minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement (disc arthroplasty), and spinal navigation. Dr. Clavenna exhausts conservative therapies, such as rehabilitation and injections, prior to surgical intervention.

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Areas of Specialty

Back
Spine
Sports Medicine

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Spine surgery is usually recommended when pain is unrelenting, affects your quality of life and conservative treatments do not seem to work. You may have surgery to relieve pain due to nerve compression by removing bone or a damaged spinal disc. There are many techniques performed to treat your back, following which you need to take a few precautions to improve outcomes and safely get you back to function.

Most spine pain can be treated without surgery. The non-surgical treatment involves the use of pain medications and other methods to reduce inflammation and restore normal function.

Athletes are prone to spine injuries as a result of trauma or repetitive movements and stress. Improper technique, fatigue and poor muscle tone and flexibility can also lead to spine injuries. High-risk sports include football, wrestling, weight lifting, ice hockey, skiing, diving and cheerleading. Injuries may cause fracture or slipping of vertebrae, bulging or rupture of intervertebral discs and damage to the spinal cord. This can lead to significant pain and disability.