Spine Surgery Second Opinion · Wisconsin Patients · Naples & Fort Myers FL
UW Health and Froedtert
are excellent. They don’t offer
what we offer.
TOPS motion-preserving surgery. Lumbar disc replacement. Barricaid annular closure. Minimally invasive SI joint fusion. Corus MIS posterior fixation. PRP and BMAC biologics. No residents, no fellows — every surgery performed personally by Dr. Katsevman. Hundreds of five-star reviews across Google, Healthgrades, and WebMD. None of this is routinely available at UW Health or Froedtert — Medical College of Wisconsin. Telemedicine second opinion from Madison, Milwaukee, or anywhere in Wisconsin.
"UW Health in Madison and Froedtert in Milwaukee are genuinely excellent academic programs. I say this without qualification. What they don’t offer is TOPS, lumbar disc replacement, Barricaid, MIS multilevel laminectomy, MIS SI joint fusion, Corus posterior fixation, or intraoperative PRP and BMAC biologics. Hundreds of my five-star patients came to Naples after being told fusion was their only option. For many, it was not."
Dr. G. Katsevman, MD · Neurosurgeon & Spine SurgeonPatient reviews
Hundreds of five-star reviews —
from patients who were told fusion was their only option
Across Google, Healthgrades, and WebMD — three independent review platforms — Dr. Katsevman holds a consistently five-star rating with hundreds of verified patient reviews from across the US and internationally. Many came after being recommended fusion at their local academic center and heard all their options for the first time.
The most important step before spine surgery
A spine surgery second opinion
from a surgeon who offers what Wisconsin doesn’t
A second opinion is most valuable when the second surgeon can offer something the first cannot. Getting a second opinion within Wisconsin — UW Health, Froedtert, Advocate Aurora, Ascension Wisconsin — produces the same recommendation for the same reason: none of those surgeons are certified for TOPS or lumbar disc replacement, and none offer intraoperative PRP or BMAC biologics. The conversation here is different.
with Dr. Katsevman covers
Before your appointment, upload your MRI, X-rays, CT scans, and any operative reports from prior procedures. Dr. Katsevman reviews all imaging personally — not a coordinator, not a PA, the surgeon himself. The consultation addresses six specific questions Wisconsin academic programs typically cannot answer:
Is the diagnosis correct?Many fusion recommendations follow accurate imaging but incomplete clinical correlation. A fresh review by a surgeon with no stake in the prior recommendation identifies whether the structural MRI finding actually explains the symptoms — or whether something else, including SI joint dysfunction, is the actual pain generator.
Are you a TOPS candidate?Grade I spondylolisthesis with stenosis — the most common diagnosis leading to a fusion recommendation — is exactly the indication for TOPS. 77% clinical success vs. 24% for fusion in the FDA RCT. Not offered at UW Health or Froedtert.
Are you a disc replacement candidate?Cervical disc replacement: 5× lower reoperation rate vs. ACDF. Lumbar disc replacement (ProDisc-L®): more than 3× less adjacent degeneration vs. fusion. Lumbar disc replacement in particular is rarely available at academic centers. Not offered in Wisconsin.
Does Barricaid apply to your discectomy?Barricaid closes the annular defect at the time of discectomy — reducing reherniation risk by 81%. Not standard at any Wisconsin academic program.
Is your laminectomy being approached optimally?Up to three levels of lumbar decompression can be performed through a single ~3 cm incision with a minimally invasive tubular retractor. Many Wisconsin academic programs still perform multilevel laminectomy through a large open incision — often by residents in training.
Is posterior fixation being planned with MIS options?Patients recommended a “360-degree” cervical fusion — ACDF plus open posterior rods and screws — may be candidates for Corus MIS posterior fixation instead. Same stabilization through incisions roughly a quarter the size. Especially important for high-risk patients: osteoporosis, smokers, nicotine users.
The honest comparison
What Wisconsin spine programs offer —
and what they don’t
UW Health and Froedtert — Medical College of Wisconsin are strong academic programs. The gap is specific and certification-based — not a reflection of quality, but of which technologies each program has chosen to pursue.
UW Health Madison · Froedtert
Advocate Aurora · Ascension WI
Solid standard spine surgeryUW Health and Froedtert produce strong outcomes for standard ACDF, lumbar fusion, discectomy, and laminectomy. The quality of care is not the issue.
TOPS not availableThe FDA Breakthrough Device for Grade I spondylolisthesis with stenosis — 77% vs. 24% over fusion in the FDA RCT — is not offered at UW Health or Froedtert. Certification not pursued. Every spondylolisthesis patient is offered fusion.
Lumbar disc replacement not offeredProDisc-L® — which produces more than 3× less adjacent degeneration vs. fusion — is not available in Wisconsin. Fusion is the default recommendation for lumbar disc disease.
Barricaid not standard81% fewer reherniations after discectomy — not practiced at Wisconsin academic centers. The annular defect is left open after surgery.
PRP and BMAC biologics not offeredIntraoperative platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow aspirate concentrate are not available at Wisconsin academic spine programs as optional biological enhancements. They are not part of the protocol.
Multilevel laminectomy often performed open — by residentsMany Wisconsin academic centers still perform multilevel lumbar laminectomy through a large open midline incision. In teaching hospitals, residents perform significant portions of this surgery.
SI joint dysfunction — often missed or not treated surgicallyMany Wisconsin academic spine programs do not routinely diagnose or treat SI joint dysfunction surgically. Patients are frequently misdiagnosed with lumbar disc disease and offered lumbar fusion for the wrong pain generator.
Open posterior fixation — no minimally invasive alternativeWhen multilevel cervical fusion requires posterior stabilization, Wisconsin academic centers use traditional open posterior fixation — long midline incision, significant muscle stripping, rods and screws. Corus MIS posterior fixation is not routinely offered.
Residents and fellows in every surgeryUW Health and Froedtert are teaching hospitals. Residents and fellows perform portions of surgeries at both. This is how surgeons are trained — but not what most patients assume when choosing an academic medical center.
This practice in Naples — what’s different
TOPS — official surgeon locator, one of few in the US77% vs. 24% over fusion in FDA RCT. Motion preserved. No cage, no bone graft. Same-day discharge. Not available at any Wisconsin academic center.
Lumbar AND cervical disc replacement — all three devicesSimplify®, ProDisc-C®, ProDisc-L®. Cervical: 5× lower reoperation rate. Lumbar: more than 3× less adjacent degeneration. Lumbar disc replacement in particular is rarely available at academic programs. Certified for all three.
Barricaid on every eligible discectomy81% fewer reherniations. Annular defect closed at surgery — standard here, not practiced at Wisconsin academic centers.
PRP and BMAC biologics — optional cash-pay, intraoperativePlatelet-rich plasma and bone marrow aspirate concentrate harvested during surgery and applied to the operative site. Optional cash-pay enhancements added on top of your insured surgery. Not offered at academic programs in Wisconsin.
MIS multilevel laminectomy — up to 3 levels, ~3 cm incisionUp to three levels of lumbar decompression through a single small incision using the METRx tubular retractor. Muscles spread, not cut. Same-day discharge. Not the standard academic approach — and not what residents are trained to perform.
Minimally invasive SI joint fusion — accurately diagnosed and treatedMany academic programs miss SI joint dysfunction entirely or have no surgical pathway. Dr. Katsevman accurately diagnoses and treats it — percutaneous MIS fusion when conservative care fails. Small lateral incision. Same-day discharge.
Corus™ MIS posterior fixation — alternative to open rods and screwsQuarter-size incisions vs. open posterior surgery. Far less muscle stripping. Level I FUSE study evidence. Especially important for high-risk patients: osteoporosis, smokers, nicotine users. Not routinely offered at Wisconsin academic centers.
Dr. Katsevman performs every case personally — no residents, no fellowsNo exceptions. The surgeon who reviewed your imaging operates, from first incision to closure. Every time.
Hundreds of five-star reviews — Google, Healthgrades, WebMDVerified, independent patient reviews across three platforms. Read them at floridaspinesurgeon.org/reviews.
The technology and biologics difference
What’s available here
that is not routinely offered at Wisconsin academic programs
77% vs 24% over fusion in FDA RCT. Grade I spondylolisthesis with stenosis. Stabilizes the slip. Preserves motion. No cage, no bone graft. Same-day discharge. Official TOPS surgeon locator — one of few certified surgeons in the US.
77% vs 24% · FDA RCTSimplify®, ProDisc-C®, ProDisc-L®. Cervical: 5× lower reoperation rate vs. ACDF. Lumbar: more than 3× less adjacent degeneration vs. fusion. Lumbar disc replacement (ProDisc-L®) is particularly rare — most academic programs have not certified surgeons for it.
5× lower reoperation · FDA IDEAnnular closure device seals the disc defect at the time of discectomy. 81% fewer reherniations in eligible patients. The most common reason patients return with leg pain after discectomy is the open annular defect. Barricaid closes it — not offered at Wisconsin academic centers.
81% fewer reherniationsDrawn from the patient’s own blood during surgery. Applied to the disc space, epidural space, or incision at the time of the procedure. Optional cash-pay biological enhancement — not available at Wisconsin academic spine programs. Surgery itself is billed through insurance.
Cash pay · autologousConcentrated bone marrow aspirate harvested from the patient during surgery and packed into the fusion cage. Optional cash-pay biological enhancement to support bone healing. Not available at Wisconsin academic spine programs. Surgery itself is billed through insurance.
Cash pay · autologousAt many Wisconsin academic centers, multilevel lumbar laminectomy is still performed through a large open midline incision — often by residents. Dr. Katsevman performs up to three-level lumbar decompression through a single ~3 cm incision using the METRx tubular retractor. Muscles spread, not cut. Same-day discharge.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is one of the most commonly missed diagnoses in spine care. Many Wisconsin academic programs do not recognize SI joint dysfunction as a surgical diagnosis or have no pathway to treat it. Patients are misdiagnosed with lumbar disc disease and offered fusion for the wrong pain generator. Percutaneous MIS fusion when appropriate. Same-day discharge.
Patients recommended “360-degree” cervical fusion may be candidates for Corus MIS posterior fixation instead. Same stabilization through incisions roughly a quarter of the size. Far less muscle stripping. Especially valuable for high-risk patients: osteoporosis, smokers, nicotine users. Level I FUSE study evidence, published in Spine.
Level I · FUSE study · SpineRobotic guidance and intraoperative CT confirmation of every screw before closure. Continuous SSEP, MEP, and EMG neuromonitoring on every cervical, thoracic, and lumbar fusion — not universal even at major academic centers. EOS full-spine standing imaging for alignment planning under load. aprevo® custom 3D-printed interbody cages built from the patient’s own CT.
How it works for Wisconsin patients
Telemedicine second opinion —
then surgery if it makes sense
Upload your MRI, X-rays, and any prior specialist reports before the appointment. Dr. Katsevman reviews all imaging personally. The consultation covers your diagnosis and — specifically — whether TOPS, disc replacement, Barricaid, MIS laminectomy, MIS SI fusion, Corus, or PRP/BMAC biologics apply to your case. Many Wisconsin patients discover options that were never presented at UW Health or Froedtert. No travel required for this step.
Surgery is billed through your insurance in the standard way. Pre-operative requirements are coordinated — most completable in Wisconsin before you travel. If you choose to add PRP or BMAC biologics, those are priced separately as cash-pay additions and disclosed fully upfront. Surgery scheduled when it works for you.
Milwaukee Mitchell (MKE) to RSW Fort Myers: approximately 2.5 hours direct on American and Southwest. Madison (MSN) connects through Chicago O’Hare or Midway to RSW — total travel under 4 hours. RSW is 30 minutes from both offices. In-person pre-op visit with Dr. Katsevman day before or morning of surgery. Most procedures: same-day discharge.
Post-operative follow-up by telemedicine from Wisconsin. Your Wisconsin physician receives a full operative report. If you have a Florida winter address or stay in Naples for the recovery period, you are recovering in Southwest Florida — not in a Wisconsin winter.
Questions from Wisconsin patients
What Wisconsin patients ask
before requesting a second opinion
UW Health recommended fusion for my spondylolisthesis. Is TOPS a real option? +
Yes — for Grade I spondylolisthesis with stenosis, which is the diagnosis that generates most spondylolisthesis fusion recommendations. TOPS stabilizes the vertebral slip while preserving controlled segmental motion. The FDA randomized controlled trial showed 77% overall clinical success with TOPS versus 24% for fusion at 2 years. UW Health is an excellent institution. TOPS is not offered there because the certification has not been pursued — not because the technology is experimental. A telemedicine second opinion determines whether your anatomy is a TOPS candidate before you commit to fusion that permanently eliminates motion at that level.
Froedtert recommended ACDF for my neck. Should I consider disc replacement? +
For single or two-level cervical disc disease without significant instability — which describes most ACDF candidates — disc replacement is often the superior long-term option. The ProDisc-C FDA IDE trial demonstrated a 5-fold lower reoperation rate at 5 years versus ACDF (2.9% vs. 14.5%). Froedtert spine surgeons are not certified for Simplify® or ProDisc-C®. A second opinion from a surgeon certified for both — who will recommend whichever is better for your specific anatomy — is the right step before committing to ACDF.
What are PRP and BMAC, and why are they cash pay? +
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is drawn from your own blood during surgery and applied to the disc space, epidural space, or operative site to support biological healing. BMAC (bone marrow aspirate concentrate) is harvested from your own bone marrow during surgery and packed into the fusion cage to augment bone growth. Both are autologous — from your own body, collected while you are already under anesthesia. They are cash-pay because insurance does not cover these biological add-ons. The surgery itself is billed to your insurance in the standard way. PRP and BMAC are optional enhancements, priced and disclosed in full before any commitment.
Does my Wisconsin insurance cover surgery in Florida? +
Yes — most major Wisconsin insurance plans cover out-of-state surgery, including WPS Health, Quartz, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. The surgery itself is billed to your insurance in the standard way. The practice provides full documentation for out-of-state claims. PRP and BMAC biologics are the only cash-pay elements — optional add-ons that insurance does not cover, priced and disclosed upfront.
If I get a second opinion at Froedtert instead of UW Health, won’t I hear the same thing? +
Almost certainly yes — which is exactly why a second opinion within Wisconsin’s academic system typically does not change the outcome. UW Health, Froedtert, Advocate Aurora, and Ascension Wisconsin all share the same structural limitation: their surgeons are not certified for TOPS or ProDisc-L®, and none offer intraoperative PRP or BMAC. The gap is not hospital-specific. It is a feature of the academic spine landscape in Wisconsin. The conversation changes when the second surgeon can offer what the first one could not.
I have a place in Southwest Florida. Can I time surgery during my winter stay? +
Yes — this is the ideal arrangement. Start with a telemedicine consultation from Wisconsin before your departure. If surgery is appropriate, it is scheduled during your Florida stay. Most procedures are same-day or next-day discharge. Recovery at your Southwest Florida address. Telemedicine follow-up after returning to Wisconsin. Milwaukee to Naples is a 2.5-hour direct flight — one of the shortest hauls of any Midwest feeder state. Wisconsin patients from Milwaukee, Madison, the Fox Valley, Green Bay, and Door County find this a very practical arrangement.
"Wisconsin patients come to me after being seen at UW Health or Froedtert — good programs both — told fusion is their only option. Many are TOPS candidates. Many qualify for lumbar disc replacement. The technology exists. It is simply not certified at those institutions. That is the gap this consultation is designed to close."
Gennadiy (Gene) A. Katsevman, MD
Neurosurgeon & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeon · Naples & Fort Myers FL
★★★★★ Hundreds of five-star reviews — Google, Healthgrades, WebMD
Naples Top Doctor — Neurosurgery 2024, 2025, 2026
Official surgeon locator: TOPS™, Simplify®, ProDisc-C®, ProDisc-L®
Barricaid® on every eligible discectomy · 81% fewer reherniations
PRP & BMAC biologics — optional cash-pay, intraoperative, autologous
MIS multilevel laminectomy · MIS SI joint fusion · Corus™ MIS posterior fixation
aprevo® 3D-printed cages · EOS alignment · Robotic navigation · Intraoperative CT
Neuromonitoring on every cervical, thoracic, and lumbar fusion
No residents · No fellows · Dr. Katsevman performs every case personally
Fellowship — Barrow Neurological Institute under Dr. Juan Uribe
30+ peer-reviewed publications
Naples: 6101 Pine Ridge Road #101 · (239) 649-1662
Fort Myers: 8380 Riverwalk Park Blvd #320 · (239) 437-1121
Wisconsin Patients · Telemedicine Second Opinion · Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews · Naples FL
Before you commit to fusion
in Wisconsin — hear all the options.
Upload your MRI before the telemedicine appointment. Dr. Katsevman reviews everything personally. You will know whether TOPS, disc replacement, Barricaid, MIS laminectomy, SI joint fusion, Corus posterior fixation, or PRP and BMAC biologics apply to your case — and whether the trip to Naples is worth making. Hundreds of five-star patients made that call. Most say they wish they had called sooner.
6101 Pine Ridge Road #101, Naples, FL 34119
Fort Myers, FL 33919
Upload imaging before your appointment