Sarasota patients
have more surgical options
than they may realize.

For many procedures — routine discectomy, standard cervical fusion, conservative management — you may not need to. Sarasota has capable spine care. The reason patients make the drive is specific: they have been recommended a particular surgery and want to know whether a motion-preserving alternative exists before committing. TOPS for spondylolisthesis, minimally invasive multi-level laminectomy without fusion, and cervical and lumbar disc replacement all require specific fellowship training and implant certification not universally available in any region. If those procedures are relevant to your diagnosis, the conversation is worth having.

Yes — and this is how most Sarasota patients start. Upload your MRI and any prior reports, schedule a video consultation, and get a real assessment of your imaging, your diagnosis, and the full range of options. If a less invasive surgical alternative applies to your case, you will hear about it and understand why. If the surgery you were recommended is the right choice, that will be confirmed with a clear explanation. Most patients who start with telemedicine follow up in person within a week or two, and the in-person visit is typically the last step before scheduling surgery.

It may be — depending on your specific grade, stability, and anatomy. TOPS is indicated for Grade I spondylolisthesis with moderate-to-severe lumbar stenosis in patients aged 35–80 at one level from L3 to L5. In the FDA randomized clinical trial, TOPS achieved 77% overall clinical success versus 24% for fusion at 2 years. Dr. Katsevman is on the official Premia Spine TOPS surgeon locator — one of very few in Florida. The first step is a review of your imaging to determine whether your specific anatomy meets the TOPS criteria. A telemedicine consultation is a straightforward way to start that conversation.

Consultations are at the Fort Myers office, approximately 75 minutes from Sarasota. Surgery is performed at hospital facilities in Naples, which are equipped with the latest surgical technology — including robotics and navigation for fusion cases, intraoperative CT for SI joint fusion, and neuromonitoring for all cervical procedures. Naples is approximately 90–95 minutes from Sarasota via I-75. Most procedures are same-day discharge, so Sarasota patients typically arrive the morning of surgery and return home the same evening. Some patients prefer to stay locally the night before for an early morning start.

Yes — most major insurance plans are accepted, including Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and others. Sarasota County patients are welcome. The team will verify your benefits before any appointment and manage prior authorization requirements. Out-of-network arrangements and GAP exception requests are also explored where applicable.