Canadian Patients · Spine Surgery in Florida · Telemedicine & In-Person
You have been waiting
long enough.
World-class spine surgery is a flight away.
Canadian patients facing 12 to 24-month waits for spine surgery have an alternative. Naples, Florida — direct flights from Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa, and beyond. Fellowship-trained neurosurgeon. The latest technology. Every procedure performed personally by Dr. Katsevman. Telemedicine consultation from anywhere in Canada. Cash-pay pricing. No wait list.
"Canadian patients deserve access to the most advanced spine surgery available — not a wait list. The technology we use, the procedures we offer, and the fact that I perform every case myself are not available in most centres anywhere in North America, let alone in a single practice."
Dr. G. Katsevman, MD · Neurosurgeon & Spine SurgeonThe Canadian healthcare reality
The wait is not just inconvenient —
for some conditions, it causes permanent harm
Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system provides excellent care for many conditions. Elective and semi-elective spine surgery is not one of its strengths. The waits are long, the system is stretched, and for conditions where timing matters clinically — progressing myelopathy, motor weakness from disc herniation, foot drop — waiting 18 months is not a neutral act.
The Canadian public system — the honest picture
18–35 weeks to see a spine specialistFrom GP referral to first specialist appointment: a median of 18 to 35 weeks depending on province, with some provinces significantly longer. This is before any diagnostic workup, before any surgical assessment, before any wait list.
12–24 additional months to surgeryOnce a specialist recommends surgery and places you on a wait list, the additional wait for an operative date is typically 12 to 24 months for most elective and semi-elective spine procedures. For complex procedures — multi-level fusion, disc replacement — waits may be longer.
Residents and fellows involved in every academic centre caseMost spine surgery in Canada is performed at academic teaching hospitals. Residents and fellows progressively perform surgical steps under attending supervision. This is how surgeons are trained — but it is not always what patients expect or are told.
Limited access to advanced technologiesMany of the technologies used routinely in this practice — TOPS motion-preserving surgery, Barricaid annular closure, custom 3D-printed implants, EOS full-spine standing imaging, and robotic navigation — are not widely available or are available only at select centres with their own access challenges.
Coming to Naples, Florida — what changes
Telemedicine consultation within days — from your home in CanadaUpload your MRI, CT, X-rays, and any prior specialist reports. Dr. Katsevman reviews all imaging personally before your telemedicine appointment. Within days of contacting the practice, you have an independent evaluation of your diagnosis, your surgical options, and a realistic timeline.
Surgery scheduled around your schedule — not a 2-year listIf surgery is appropriate, it is scheduled when it works for you — not when the system has availability. For snowbirds already in Southwest Florida, surgery can often be arranged within weeks of the consultation. For patients travelling from Canada, the timing is planned to fit a stay of appropriate length.
Dr. Katsevman performs every step of every case himselfNo residents. No fellows. The surgeon who evaluated you in the telemedicine consultation is the surgeon who operates — from incision to closure. This is the standard of care you are paying for, and it is the standard delivered on every case.
The full technology stack — available for your caseTOPS. Disc replacement. Barricaid. Custom 3D-printed implants. Robotic navigation. EOS alignment planning. Intraoperative CT confirmation. Neuromonitoring on every fusion case. PRP and BMAC intraoperatively. These are not options available in most practices. They are the standard at this one.
Why this practice — not anywhere else
The technology stack —
what is available here that most practices cannot offer
Canadian patients choosing to travel for spine surgery can go anywhere. The question is not whether surgery is available in the United States — it is which practice offers the combination of technology, training, and personal surgical care that produces the best outcome for that patient's specific condition. Here is what makes this practice genuinely different from most spine surgery centres in North America.
FDA Breakthrough Device for Grade I spondylolisthesis with stenosis. Preserves segmental motion while stabilizing the slip. 77% overall clinical success vs. 24% for fusion at 2 years in the FDA randomized controlled trial. No cage, no bone graft, no permanent rigid construct. Dr. Katsevman is on the official TOPS surgeon locator — one of a small number of certified surgeons in North America.
77% vs 24% over fusion · FDA RCTDisc replacement removes the degenerated disc and replaces it with an artificial disc that maintains segmental motion. Adjacent levels are not forced to compensate. 5× lower reoperation rate at 5 years vs. ACDF in the ProDisc-C FDA IDE trial (2.9% vs 14.5%). >3× less adjacent degeneration vs. lumbar fusion. Dr. Katsevman is on the official surgeon locator for all three devices — most spine surgeons are not certified to perform disc replacement.
5× lower cervical reoperation rate · FDA IDE trialStandard discectomy leaves the annular defect open. The Barricaid annular closure device seals the defect after disc removal. 81% reduction in reherniation risk in eligible patients in the pivotal trial. The full 3R protocol: Remove (minimally invasive discectomy through a sub-quarter-inch incision), Replace (Barricaid closure), Regenerate (PRP intraoperatively). Same-day discharge.
81% fewer reherniations · Barricaid RCTEvery fusion cage is manufactured from a CT scan of the patient’s specific vertebral anatomy. Perfect endplate contact, patient-specific lordosis, porous titanium architecture that promotes bone ingrowth. Planned from EOS full-spine standing imaging so the correct alignment is built into the implant before it enters the operating room. Not a size from a tray — a device made for you.
Standard X-ray and MRI are taken lying down. EOS captures simultaneous AP and lateral full-length images from skull to feet, standing upright, weight-bearing. Sagittal balance, pelvic incidence, lumbar lordosis — measured as they exist under load. Fusion planned to restore the alignment the patient’s anatomy requires. A fusion placed with poor alignment produces poor outcomes regardless of technique.
Robotic guidance and 3D navigation guide pedicle screw placement in real time using the patient’s actual intraoperative anatomy. An intraoperative CT is taken after hardware placement — with the patient still on the table — to confirm every screw is correctly positioned before wound closure. Misplaced hardware is corrected before the patient wakes up, not at a revision surgery.
Continuous SSEP, MEP, and EMG monitoring throughout every fusion case at every level. A dedicated neurophysiologist monitors waveforms in real time. Any change triggers an immediate alert — before injury becomes permanent. Not reserved for cases that seem complex: every fusion, every time. This is not universal practice even at major centres.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is drawn from the patient’s blood while already under anesthesia — applied to the disc space, epidural space, incision, or around a decompressed peripheral nerve. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) is harvested intraoperatively from the vertebral body, ASIS, or PSIS and packed into the fusion cage alongside bone graft. Both are autologous — from the patient’s own body. Cash pay. No additional needle sticks.
ALIF and LLIF with percutaneous screws for fusion — the back muscles are never cut. Multi-level laminectomy through a ~3 cm incision using METRx tubular retractors. 3R Discectomy through a sub-quarter-inch incision. Arthrex Nanoscope endoscopic carpal tunnel release through a single wrist incision. Closed with tissue glue, not staples. The approach is minimally invasive across every procedure — not selectively.
A meaningful difference for Canadian patients specifically
Dr. Katsevman performs every case himself —
no residents, no fellows, no exceptions
This point lands differently for Canadian patients. Most spine surgery in Canada is performed at academic teaching hospitals. Resident and fellow involvement is the norm, not the exception. The surgeon who assessed you in clinic may not be the surgeon who operates.
What you get at an academic centre — vs. what you get here
Canadian academic centre standard · vs. this practice
Residents and fellows are how surgeons are trained. The system produces good surgeons over time. But when you are the patient, the question is different: who is operating on my spine? In an academic centre, the honest answer is often that a resident or fellow is performing significant portions of the procedure under supervision. That is not deception — it is training. It is also not what most patients assume when they consent to surgery.
The process — from Canada to surgery
How it works —
step by step, from your home to Naples
The process is designed to be straightforward. You do not need to be in Florida to start. Most of the evaluation happens before you leave Canada.
Upload your MRI, CT, X-rays, nerve conduction studies, and any prior specialist or operative reports through the practice portal before your appointment. Dr. Katsevman reviews all imaging personally. The telemedicine consultation covers everything a first in-person visit would: your diagnosis, whether it is correct, whether surgery is indicated, what the surgical options are, which procedure is right for your anatomy, and a realistic recovery timeline. For most Canadian patients, this consultation is the most thorough spine evaluation they have had.
If surgery is appropriate, the practice coordinates pre-operative requirements — any additional imaging, blood work, cardiac or anaesthesia clearance — that can often be completed in Canada before you arrive. Surgery is scheduled to fit your travel window. Snowbirds already in Southwest Florida can often have surgery scheduled within weeks. Patients travelling specifically for surgery typically plan a 1 to 3 week stay depending on the procedure. Cash-pay pricing is provided in full transparency before any commitment — surgical fee, facility fee, anaesthesia — no surprises.
RSW (Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers) has direct service from Toronto (YYZ), Ottawa (YOW), Montreal (YUL), Calgary (YYC), and other Canadian airports — and is approximately 30 minutes from both the Fort Myers and Naples offices. An in-person pre-operative visit with Dr. Katsevman is scheduled the day before or morning of surgery for examination and final confirmation of the surgical plan. Most procedures are same-day discharge. For procedures requiring an overnight stay, the practice team assists with coordinating local accommodation.
Post-operative follow-up visits are conducted by telemedicine from Canada — no requirement to return to Florida for routine follow-up. Imaging reviews, wound checks by photo, and clinical questions are all managed remotely. Your Canadian family physician or spine specialist receives a full operative report to coordinate any local follow-up care. For procedures with physical therapy requirements, a standardized protocol is provided that any Canadian PT can implement.
Getting here
Flying to Southwest Florida —
closer than you might think
Southwest Florida is well-served from major Canadian cities. Most flights arrive at RSW — Fort Myers/Southwest Florida International — which is approximately 30 minutes from both the Fort Myers and Naples offices.
The primary airport for this practice. Approximately 30 minutes to both the Fort Myers and Naples offices. Direct service from major Canadian airports. The most practical arrival point for most Canadian patients.
Smaller regional airport 10 minutes from the Naples office. Served primarily by smaller regional carriers and charter. Practical for patients arriving by private aircraft or connecting through a Florida hub (MIA, TPA, MCO). Not typically the most convenient option for direct Canadian arrivals — RSW is generally the better choice.
The recovery period
Recovering in Southwest Florida —
not in a February snowstorm
Most procedures at this practice are same-day or next-day discharge. You are not confined to a hospital room. Your recovery happens in one of the most beautiful places in North America — warm weather, Gulf beaches, excellent restaurants, and the kind of environment that makes rest feel like something worth doing.
Recovering at home in Canada — in winter
Recovery in a cold climateShort days. Cold temperatures. Ice on sidewalks that make the post-surgical instruction to walk regularly a genuine challenge. Most Canadian patients recovering from spine surgery in winter do so in an environment that is not particularly conducive to the gentle daily walking that spine rehabilitation recommends.
Post-operative care through the same stretched systemFollow-up appointments, physiotherapy referrals, and access to the operating surgeon for questions all go through the same infrastructure that had you waiting 18 months in the first place.
Recovery as something to endureThere is nothing wrong with recovering at home. It is simply not the same as recovering somewhere that is warm, beautiful, and designed for exactly the kind of slow, restorative movement that post-surgical recovery requires.
Recovering in Southwest Florida — what it actually looks like
75°F and sunny — every daySouthwest Florida in winter is warm, dry, and beautiful. The daily walking that spine rehabilitation recommends is not a challenge here — it is a pleasure. The Gulf beaches of Naples and Fort Myers are flat, soft, and ideal for the gentle walking that accelerates recovery. Most patients describe the post-operative period in Southwest Florida as genuinely restorative.
Your companion is here with you — and they are not sufferingNaples and Fort Myers have world-class restaurants, pristine beaches, fishing, boating, golf, shopping, and arts. While you rest, your spouse or companion enjoys one of the most desirable winter destinations in North America. Many couples describe the combination of surgery and recovery in Naples as a genuinely positive experience — not a medical trip, but a winter stay that happened to include something important.
Direct access to Dr. Katsevman during recoveryPost-operative questions and concerns are handled directly — not through a resident service. Telemedicine follow-up continues after you return home to Canada. The care does not end at discharge.
Procedures — and what they mean for your travel timeline
What can be done —
and how long you need to stay
Most procedures at this practice are same-day or next-day discharge. You are not spending weeks in a hospital — you are recovering in Southwest Florida. The specific timeline for your procedure and when you can travel home is something Dr. Katsevman discusses with you individually based on what was done and how you are recovering. The recovery period itself, however, is spent somewhere considerably better than a Canadian February.
Removes the painful cervical disc and replaces it with an artificial disc maintaining motion. 5× lower reoperation rate vs. ACDF. Avoids the adjacent segment disease cascade that makes fusion a longer-term problem. Same-day or next-day discharge.
Preserves motion at the painful lumbar level. >3× less adjacent degeneration vs. fusion. Faster return to activity than fusion. Same-day or next-day discharge. Excellent option for patients waiting for lumbar fusion who are candidates for disc replacement instead.
Motion-preserving alternative to lumbar fusion for Grade I spondylolisthesis. 77% vs 24% over fusion. Most Canadians waiting for spinal fusion for spondylolisthesis are not told TOPS exists. Same-day discharge in most cases.
Minimally invasive discectomy plus annular closure. 81% fewer reherniations. Sub-quarter-inch incision. Same-day discharge. One of the most straightforward procedures for medical travel — short recovery, high success rate.
Multi-level decompression through a ~3 cm incision. Same-day discharge. For patients with lumbar or cervical stenosis producing significant symptoms, this procedure fits easily within a winter Florida stay with minimal disruption.
When fusion is genuinely indicated: anterior or lateral approach, percutaneous screws, custom aprevo® cage, BMAC biologics, EOS planned. Less muscle disruption than open posterior fusion, faster recovery. Appropriate for snowbird season with sufficient stay duration.
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release (10–15 min), cubital tunnel decompression, peroneal nerve decompression for foot drop — all same-day, small incisions, minimal recovery. PRP available for severe cases. Among the easiest procedures to fit into a short medical trip or snowbird window.
Questions from Canadian patients
What Canadians ask before making the trip
Will my provincial health plan cover any of this? +
Some Canadian provinces have out-of-country coverage programs for elective procedures when the procedure is not available in the province within a medically reasonable timeframe. Ontario (OHIP), Alberta (AHCIP), British Columbia, and other provinces each have their own policies and application processes. Coverage is not guaranteed and requires pre-approval in most cases. The practice team can provide documentation to support an out-of-country coverage application if requested. Patients should contact their provincial health authority directly to understand what pre-approval is required and what documentation is needed. Surgical and facility fees are quoted in full transparency so you know the total cost regardless of coverage outcome.
Is it safe to fly home after spine surgery? +
For most minimally invasive procedures at this practice, flying home within days to a couple of weeks of surgery is appropriate and routinely done by patients without complications. The specific timing depends on your procedure, your recovery, and your destination — Dr. Katsevman discusses your individual air travel clearance as part of discharge planning. Most procedures at this practice are same-day or next-day discharge, which means recovery begins quickly. Economy seating is manageable for shorter flights; business class or premium economy with legroom is more comfortable for longer Canadian routes. Deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis (compression stockings, hydration, movement during the flight) is recommended for any post-surgical flight and is included in discharge instructions.
Can my family member or spouse accompany me and be present? +
Yes — and for patients travelling from Canada, having a companion is strongly encouraged for same-day surgical procedures. Most procedures are same-day discharge and patients cannot drive themselves home from the surgical facility. A companion can accompany you to the pre-operative visit, be present in the recovery area after surgery, and assist with discharge. Naples and Fort Myers are well-suited for a companion — the area has excellent hotels, restaurants, and beaches within easy distance of both the office and surgical facilities. Many Canadian patients and their spouses treat the recovery period as an opportunity to enjoy Southwest Florida while the patient rests and recovers.
My Canadian spine surgeon recommended fusion. I want to know if disc replacement or TOPS is an option for me. +
This is the most common situation for Canadian patients who contact this practice. The majority of Canadian spine surgeons who recommend fusion for spondylolisthesis or degenerative disc disease are either not trained in disc replacement or TOPS, or do not have access to these technologies. A telemedicine second opinion evaluates your specific imaging and clinical picture independently. If your anatomy is appropriate for disc replacement or TOPS, you will be told clearly. If fusion is genuinely the right answer for your case, you will be told that too — along with what makes it right for your anatomy and what the best minimally invasive fusion approach would be. The goal is the right operation for your spine, not the operation that is easiest to recommend.
What happens if I have a complication after I return to Canada? +
Complications after minimally invasive spine surgery are uncommon, but they can occur and the question is legitimate. For any urgent concern after returning to Canada, the local emergency department is the first contact — this is the same advice given to any post-surgical patient regardless of where they had surgery. For non-urgent post-operative questions, telemedicine follow-up with Dr. Katsevman is available and is the routine channel for post-operative communication. A complete operative report, discharge instructions, and post-operative protocol are provided at discharge to give any Canadian emergency physician or spine surgeon full information about what was done and what to look for. The practice has experience managing Canadian patients remotely through routine recovery and has protocols in place for this.
"Canadian patients ask me why they should come here rather than a large American academic centre. The answer is straightforward: the technology stack we offer, the procedures available, and the fact that I personally perform every operation — not a resident, not a fellow, not a junior attending — is a combination that is genuinely rare. I trained at one of the world’s best neurosurgical programmes. I brought everything I learned there to a practice where every patient gets the attending."
Gennadiy (Gene) A. Katsevman, MD
Neurosurgeon & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeon · Naples & Fort Myers FL
Fellowship-trained at Barrow Neurological Institute under Dr. Juan Uribe — one of the world’s premier neurosurgical programmes
Residency at West Virginia University Level 1 Trauma Centre
30+ peer-reviewed publications
Official surgeon locator: Simplify®, ProDisc-C®, ProDisc-L®, TOPS™ — certified for all four
Naples Top Doctor — Neurosurgery 2024, 2025, 2026
5-star Google · Healthgrades Choice · WebMD Preferred · U.S. News Patients’ Top Choice
Telemedicine available for initial consultation from anywhere in Canada
Naples office: 6101 Pine Ridge Road #101 · (239) 649-1662
Fort Myers office: 8380 Riverwalk Park Blvd #320 · (239) 437-1121
Full background, training & publications → floridaspinesurgeon.org/about
Key pages for Canadian patients
Telemedicine from Canada · Surgery in Naples & Fort Myers FL
The wait list is not your
only option.
Telemedicine consultation from anywhere in Canada. Upload your imaging and records before your appointment. Dr. Katsevman reviews everything personally. You will leave the consultation knowing exactly what your diagnosis is, what your options are, and what the right procedure is for your specific anatomy — whether that is here or at home.
6101 Pine Ridge Road #101, Naples, FL 34119
Fort Myers, FL 33919
Upload imaging before your appointment