Restoring Function Over Fusion: Motion Preservation in Modern Spine Surgery, Jeff Larson, MD

In this episode of The Spine Pod, co-hosts Courtney Schutze and Brady Riesgraf travel to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to sit down with Dr. Jeff Larson, a neurosurgeon and motion preservation specialist at CDA Spine and Brain. With three decades of experience, over 60 publications, and a thriving social media presence dedicated to patient education, Dr. Larson has built a practice rooted in a simple but powerful philosophy: give patients their life back with the least surgical burden possible.

Dr. Larson's journey into neurosurgery began with mentorship under Dr. John Tew in Cincinnati, where he learned that the art of surgery is about taking what's complex and making it simple. After training in cerebrovascular surgery, Dr. Larson made the deliberate choice to leave academics behind and focus on spine care in a place where he could balance professional excellence with the life he wanted to live.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Larson discusses how spine surgery has become unnecessarily complex over the past 30 years, with fusion becoming the default answer to nearly every spinal problem. He challenges this paradigm by advocating for thoughtful, individualized care that prioritizes motion preservation whenever possible. In a previous publication on workers compensation patients, Dr. Larson displayed a 28-day return to work after cervical disc replacement versus 71 day average RTW after fusion, underscoring the real-world impact of his motion-preserving care. From cervical and lumbar disc arthroplasty to the emerging potential of devices in ongoing US clinical trials, like the Synergy Cervical Disc and MOTUS Lumbar Total Joint Replacement, Dr. Larson shares how these technologies, when used appropriately, can impact patient outcomes, preserve motion, and get people back to their lives they’re meant to live. 

In this episode you'll learn:

• How spine surgery became too complex over the past 30 years, and why motion preservation offers a return to thoughtful, individualized care
• The striking difference in recovery times between cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) and cervical fusion ACDF), backed by Dr. Larson's own retrospective data on worker’s compensation patients
• How to navigate insurance barriers and fight for motion-preserving technologies in a system that often defaults to fusion
• How Dr. Larson integrates holistic wellness through his M3 clinic, including red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and regenerative medicine
• What patients should look for when seeking out a motion preservation surgeon, and the questions they need to ask to avoid unnecessary fusion
• How patients can decide on different surgical treatments when dealing with acute or chronic leg and/or back pain

From building trust through extended consults to staying rooted in first principles of medicine, Dr. Larson offers a candid perspective on why high-value spine care starts with understanding the person, not just the pathology. Whether treating patients with complex surgical needs or supporting those navigating years of chronic pain, his goal is simple: provide care that restores function, avoids unnecessary interventions, and empowers people to reclaim their lives.

Learn more about Dr. Larson:

• CDA Spine: https://cdaspine.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jeffrey-larson-b216b810/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdaspine
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cdaspine/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdaspine/  

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The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment.