Dr. Sean Keem, a board-certified and fellowship-trained spine surgeon has joined Sansum Clinic’s Orthopedics Department and will be performing surgeries at its Foothill Surgery Center, Sansum Clinic, now part of Sutter Health, has announced.
Dr. Keem has specialized training and experience in minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS)
“As people live longer, spinal diseases are becoming more common and the demand for MIS is increasing,” Dr. Keem said.
“Endoscopic spine surgery (ESS), the latest advancement in MIS, allows us to perform next-level MIS with minimal tissue trauma, less
blood loss and need for pain medication, and faster recovery than more traditional spine surgical approaches while achieving a superior outcome to address patients’ conditions,” he said.
“Our partners within Sutter Health connected us with Dr. Keem, knowing our desire to expand access to our outpatient surgery services,” said Dr. Kurt Ransohoff, president, Sutter Health Greater Central Coast.
“The strength and success of the Sutter Health system was an important factor in Dr. Keem choosing to continue his medical career with us, and we are excited about the contributions he brings to the care we offer,” Dr. Ransohoff said.
MIS can be used to address the full array of degenerative spinal ailments including disc herniations with sciatica, spinal stenosis with radiculopathy (pinched nerve), and myelopathy (spinal cord condition caused by compression which can cause pain, numbness, weakness), and spinal deformities such as spondylolisthesis and scoliosis, according to Sansum Clinic.
Technological innovations make it possible to use MIS to address more spine conditions. During endoscopic spine surgery for instance, the surgeon makes ½-inch incisions to insert a camera and instruments, Sansum said.
“The high-resolution camera lets me see the disc space and nerve roots in great definition to visualize and address the pathology while minimizing injury to vital structures,” Dr. Keem said.
Compared to traditional open spine procedures, which require larger instruments and more extensive tissue dissection, the use of MIS, especially ESS, provides a better chance to achieve the desired surgical outcome for the patients while greatly reducing the risk for surgery-related complications, according to Dr. Keem.
Dr. Keem received his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
He completed his spine surgery fellowship at the Combined Program of St. Anthony Trauma Hospital-Craig Spinal Cord Injury Hospital- Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado. He received an MBA from Foster School of Business at the University of Washington in Seattle, and a BA in biology from UCSB.
In his role at Sansum, Dr. Keem will be working with Sansum Clinic and community orthopedic surgeons, primary care clinicians, pain management specialists, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, neurologists, radiologists and physical therapists, when they encounter patients with symptoms or concerns consistent with spinal diseases or conditions.
Dr. Keem is practicing at Foothill Surgery Center, 4151 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara, which was recently recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 “Best ASCs” issue.