Serving Winter Haven & Eastern Polk County · Naples & Fort Myers
Winter Haven patients
have more surgical options
than they may have been told.
Winter Haven sits in the heart of Polk County — close to both Tampa and Orlando but often falling between their referral networks. Patients here with lumbar stenosis, spondylolisthesis, disc disease, and cervical myelopathy frequently don’t know that the most advanced minimally invasive surgical options in Southwest Florida are two hours south in Naples. TOPS. Disc replacement. Tubular laminectomy without fusion. Same-day surgery.
"Winter Haven patients get caught between Tampa and Orlando referrals — sent to the big systems without being told that two hours south there are procedures those systems don’t always offer. A telemedicine consultation changes that conversation fast."
Dr. G. Katsevman, MD · Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeonvia I-4 West & I-75 South
disc replacement, laminectomy
for most procedures
Doctor 2024, 2025, 2026
What Winter Haven patients often don’t know exists
Advanced options that require
specific fellowship training
Winter Haven and eastern Polk County have solid local medical care for primary and routine specialty needs. For specific advanced spine surgical procedures, the closest options are either the large academic systems in Tampa and Orlando, or — less obviously but genuinely — Naples, two hours south via I-4 and I-75. The difference is not just distance. It is what is available.
Patients recommended fusion for spondylolisthesis, told disc replacement is not applicable, or quoted open surgery for what can now be done through a quarter-inch incision same-day — it is worth a conversation before committing to any plan.
What’s available two hours south that may not be available locally
TOPS motion-preserving surgery — FDA Breakthrough Device for Grade I spondylolisthesis with stenosis. 77% vs 24% overall clinical success versus fusion at 2 years. No cage, no rods, no permanent fusion. Dr. Katsevman is on the official Premia Spine surgeon locator — one of very few in Florida.
Minimally invasive tubular laminectomy — up to 3 levels of lumbar decompression through a single quarter-inch incision. Posterior ligaments preserved. Same-day discharge. No fusion required for many patients who have been told they need it. The only surgeon in Naples and Fort Myers performing this at multi-level.
Cervical and lumbar disc replacement — Simplify®, ProDisc-C®, and ProDisc-L®. Dr. Katsevman is on the official surgeon locator for all three devices. Motion preserved. Fewer long-term reoperations versus fusion.
Surgery at Naples facilities with robotics and navigation for every fusion case, intraoperative CT for SI joint fusion, and neuromonitoring for every cervical procedure.
Conditions treated for Winter Haven patients
What brings eastern Polk County patients south to Naples
These are the diagnoses where the gap between what is available locally and what is available in Naples is most significant.
Recommended fusion for Grade I? The slip may be stable — symptoms may arise from nerve compression, not instability. TOPS or laminectomy without fusion may be the right answer. Dynamic X-rays tell the story fusion-first recommendations often skip.
Learn more → Leg pain · Walking limitation Lumbar Spinal StenosisCanal narrowing causing neurogenic claudication. Treated with minimally invasive laminectomy, TOPS, or fusion depending on stability. Same-day surgery for most approaches. No multi-day hospital stays.
Learn more → Neck & back Herniated DiscMost improve without surgery. When surgery is needed, the 3R Discectomy uses a sub-quarter-inch incision with Barricaid annular closure — reducing reherniation risk by 81%. Same-day discharge.
Learn more → Time-sensitive · Do not wait Cervical MyelopathySpinal cord compression causing hand weakness, balance loss, and gait changes. The cord cannot recover what it permanently loses. All four surgical approaches available: ACDF, disc replacement, laminectomy, laminoplasty.
Learn more → Leg pain · Shooting SciaticaShooting pain from the lower back into the leg. The cause — disc herniation, stenosis, or spondylolisthesis — determines the right surgical approach. Getting the source right matters before recommending an operation.
Learn more → Frequently missed SI Joint DysfunctionDeep buttock pain from the sacroiliac joint — 15–25% of chronic lower back pain. Often misdiagnosed for years. When correctly identified with two positive diagnostic injections, SI fusion outcomes are among the best in the practice.
Learn more →Surgical procedures available to Winter Haven patients
The full spectrum —
consultations in Fort Myers or Naples, surgery in Naples
Every procedure below requires specific training not universally available in eastern Polk County or at most regional centers. All are accessible via the Fort Myers consultation office (~90 min) or directly in Naples for surgery (~2 hrs).
FDA Breakthrough Device. 77% vs 24% success vs. fusion at 2 years. No cage, no rods, no permanent fusion. Dr. K on official Premia Spine surgeon locator.
Learn more → 02 Stenosis · up to 3 levels Minimally Invasive LaminectomyQuarter-inch incision. Up to 3 levels. Posterior ligaments preserved. Same-day discharge. No restrictions at 6 weeks.
Learn more → 03 Herniated disc · Sciatica 3R Discectomy™Remove (METRx <¼") · Replace (Barricaid® 81% fewer reherniations) · Regenerate (PRP). Same-day discharge.
Learn more → 04 Neck pain · Arm pain Cervical Disc ReplacementSimplify® & ProDisc-C® — surgeon locator listed. Motion preserved. 4× fewer reoperations at 7 years vs. fusion.
Learn more → 05 Lower back · DDD Lumbar Disc ReplacementProDisc-L® — 300,000+ implants, 35+ years data. Nearly 4× less adjacent degeneration vs. fusion. Motion preserved.
Learn more → 06 Myelopathy · Radiculopathy ACDF Cervical FusionLipstick-sized incision. No muscles cut. Neuromonitoring every case. Prevertebral steroids. Same-day or next-day discharge.
Learn more → 07 When fusion is truly needed Lumbar FusionEOS EDGE alignment planning. Robotics and navigation every case. BMAC biologic augmentation. aprevo® custom 3D-printed implants available.
Learn more → 08 Chronic buttock & pelvic pain SI Joint FusionTORQ lateral screws. Intraoperative CT confirms placement before waking. 3cm incision. Same-day discharge. PRP option.
Learn more → 09 Before you say yes to surgery Second OpinionBeen told you need fusion or major spine surgery? A fellowship-trained minimally invasive second opinion frequently changes the recommendation. Telemedicine available.
Learn more →Getting here from Winter Haven
I-4 West to I-75 South —
straightforward from eastern Polk County
From Winter Haven, I-4 West to I-75 South is a clean highway run with no city traffic after the Tampa interchange. Two hours to Naples. About 90 minutes to the Fort Myers office. Most Winter Haven patients start with a telemedicine consultation from home, then make one trip south.
Fort Myers Office
8380 Riverwalk Park Blvd #320
Fort Myers, FL 33919
~90 minutes from Winter Haven
via I-4 West & I-75 South
Get Directions →
Surgery location: Surgery is performed at hospital facilities in Naples (~2 hrs from Winter Haven). Robotics and navigation for fusion, intraoperative CT for SI joint fusion, neuromonitoring for all cervical procedures. Most procedures are same-day discharge.
Naples office also available: 6101 Pine Ridge Road #101 — (239) 649-1662. Some Winter Haven patients prefer to consult and have surgery at the same Naples location.
Driving from Winter Haven
Also serving: Haines City, Auburndale, Bartow, and all of eastern Polk County follow the same I-4 West to I-75 South route. Lakeland patients are also served — see the Lakeland spine surgeon page.
Questions from Winter Haven & Polk County patients
What patients ask before making the drive
Why drive to Naples when Tampa is closer? +
For many procedures, Tampa is a perfectly reasonable option. The reason Winter Haven patients make the drive to Naples is specific: procedures like TOPS for spondylolisthesis, minimally invasive multi-level laminectomy without fusion, and cervical and lumbar disc replacement require specific fellowship training not universally available even at large Tampa systems. A telemedicine consultation from Winter Haven takes 30 minutes and tells you whether any of these apply to your case — before committing to any drive in any direction.
I have been recommended spinal fusion. Are there alternatives? +
Possibly — depending on your specific diagnosis and imaging. For Grade I spondylolisthesis, TOPS is an FDA-proven alternative with 77% vs 24% overall success versus fusion at 2 years. For stable spondylolisthesis not actively moving, minimally invasive laminectomy without fusion can relieve nerve compression without hardware. For disc disease at one or two levels, lumbar disc replacement may preserve motion instead of fusing. Start with a telemedicine consultation — bring your MRI and prior recommendations — and find out which of these applies to your anatomy.
Can I start with telemedicine from Winter Haven? +
Yes — and for most eastern Polk County patients this is the right first step. Upload your MRI and any prior reports, schedule a video consultation, and get a real assessment of your options from home. If a less invasive surgical alternative applies to your case, the drive south becomes the obvious next step. Most patients who start with telemedicine make one in-person visit within one to two weeks — either to Fort Myers for consultation or directly to Naples for surgery.
Where is surgery performed — Fort Myers or Naples? +
Consultations are available at the Fort Myers office (~90 min from Winter Haven) or Naples (~2 hrs). Surgery is performed at hospital facilities in Naples, equipped with robotics and navigation for fusion cases, intraoperative CT for SI joint fusion, and neuromonitoring for all cervical procedures. Most procedures are same-day discharge — Winter Haven patients typically arrive the morning of surgery and return home the same evening. Some prefer to stay one night in Naples before the return drive.
Does Dr. Katsevman accept insurance for Polk County patients? +
Yes — most major insurance plans are accepted, including Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and others. Eastern Polk County patients are welcome at both offices. Contact Fort Myers at (239) 437-1121 or Naples at (239) 649-1662 to verify coverage before scheduling.
Learn more about the practice
"Eastern Polk County patients are caught between the Tampa and Orlando referral ecosystems without fully belonging to either. Two hours south on I-75, the full range of advanced minimally invasive options is available — closer than most of the places they’ve been sent."
Gennadiy (Gene) A. Katsevman, MD
Neurosurgeon & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeon
Fort Myers office ~90 min from Winter Haven via I-4 West & I-75 South · (239) 437-1121
Naples office ~2 hours from Winter Haven · (239) 649-1662
Also serving Haines City, Auburndale, Bartow, and all of eastern Polk County
Surgery at Naples hospital facilities — robotics & navigation, intraoperative CT, neuromonitoring
Fellowship-trained at Barrow Neurological Institute under Dr. Juan Uribe
TOPS · Simplify® · ProDisc-C® & ProDisc-L® — official surgeon locator listings
30+ peer-reviewed publications · Naples Top Doctor 2024, 2025, 2026
5-star Google · Healthgrades Choice · WebMD Preferred · U.S. News Patients’ Top Choice
Full background, training & publications → floridaspinesurgeon.org/about
Winter Haven & Eastern Polk County
Two hours south.
Options you may not have been offered.
Start with telemedicine from Winter Haven — or drive to Fort Myers or Naples. Bring your imaging. Find out whether the full spectrum of minimally invasive options was part of the conversation before you were referred elsewhere.
Fort Myers, FL 33919
6101 Pine Ridge Road #101, Naples, FL 34119
Upload your MRI & begin