?

Waikato > Private Hospitals & Specialists >

Joe Baker - Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon

Private Service, Orthopaedics

Description

Joe Baker is an orthopaedic spine surgeon consulting at Midland Orthopaedics and Spine in Hamilton and at Cambridge Family Health in Cambridge. All surgical procedures are carried out at Braemar Hospital or Southern Cross Hospital in Hamilton.
 
Joe completed his specialty training at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York and at Auckland City Hospital. He has a special interest in spinal deformity including scoliosis, kyphosis and spondylolisthesis. He also sees patients with degenerative conditions of the spine including cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions, post-traumatic problems including patients with osteoporotic fractures, providing surgical solutions including decompression, fusion and arthroplasty techniques. 
 
He is a member of the Scoliosis Research Society and International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and is active in research, supervising numerous projects in the field of spinal surgery.

Staff

Fiona and Carlien run the office and will be your first point of contact.

Consultants

Referral Expectations

You need to bring with you to your appointment:

1.       Any letters or reports from your doctor or hospital.
2.       Any X-Rays, CT or MRI films and reports.
3.       All medicines you are taking including herbal and natural remedies.
4.       Your pharmaceutical entitlement card.
5.       Your ACC number, if you have one.

Fees and Charges Description

Southern Cross Affiliated provider for Orthopaedic consultations

nib First Choice Provider

Hours

Consulting clinics are held once a week in Hamilton at Midland Orthopaedics and Spine on Hammond Street.

Consulting clinics are held once a month at the Cambridge Family Health, Oliver Street, Cambridge.

Procedures / Treatments

Lumbar discectomy

Between the vertebrae in your spine are flat, round discs that act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Sometimes some of the gel-like substance in the center of the disc (nucleus) bulges out through the tough outer ring (annulus) and into the spinal canal. This is known as a herniated or ruptured disc and the pressure it puts on the spinal nerves often causes symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling. Initial treatment for a herniated disc may involve low level activity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy. If these approaches fail to reduce or remove the pain, surgical treatment may be considered. Discectomy This surgery is performed to remove part or all of a herniated intervertebral disc. Open discectomy – involves making an incision (cut) over the vertebra and stripping back the muscles to expose the herniated disc. The entire disc, or parts of it are removed, thus relieving pressure on the spinal nerves. Microdiscectomy – this is a ‘minimally invasive’ surgical technique, meaning it requires smaller incisions and no muscle stripping is required. Tiny, specialised instruments are used to remove the disc or disc fragments. Laminectomy or Laminotomy These procedures involve making an incision down the centre of the back and removing some or all of the bony arch (lamina) of a vertebra. In a laminectomy, all or most of the lamina is surgically removed while a laminotomy involves partial removal of the lamina. By making more room in the spinal canal, these procedures reduce pressure on the spinal nerves. They also give the surgeon better access to the disc and other parts of the spine if further procedures e.g. discectomy, spinal fusion, are required.

Between the vertebrae in your spine are flat, round discs that act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Sometimes some of the gel-like substance in the center of the disc (nucleus) bulges out through the tough outer ring (annulus) and into the spinal canal. This is known as a herniated or ruptured disc and the pressure it puts on the spinal nerves often causes symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling.

Initial treatment for a herniated disc may involve low level activity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy. If these approaches fail to reduce or remove the pain, surgical treatment may be considered. 

Discectomy

This surgery is performed to remove part or all of a herniated intervertebral disc.

Open discectomy – involves making an incision (cut) over the vertebra and stripping back the muscles to expose the herniated disc. The entire disc, or parts of it are removed, thus relieving pressure on the spinal nerves.

Microdiscectomy – this is a ‘minimally invasive’ surgical technique, meaning it requires smaller incisions and no muscle stripping is required. Tiny, specialised instruments are used to remove the disc or disc fragments.

Laminectomy or Laminotomy

These procedures involve making an incision down the centre of the back and removing some or all of the bony arch (lamina) of a vertebra.

In a laminectomy, all or most of the lamina is surgically removed while a laminotomy involves partial removal of the lamina.

By making more room in the spinal canal, these procedures reduce pressure on the spinal nerves. They also give the surgeon better access to the disc and other parts of the spine if further procedures e.g. discectomy, spinal fusion, are required.

Cervical disc replacement
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
Spinal fusion
Kyphoplasty

Some fractures that result from weakened bone (osteoporosis) may benefit from an injection of cement to restore stability. Careful patient selection helps improve the chance of a good outcome!

Some fractures that result from weakened bone (osteoporosis) may benefit from an injection of cement to restore stability. Careful patient selection helps improve the chance of a good outcome!
Scoliosis correction

Parking

Free off-street parking available at each clinic

Website

Contact Details

Appointments can be arranged using the contact details above. Urgent appointments available.

1913 Cambridge Road
Cambridge
Waikato 3434

Information about this location

View on Google Maps

Get directions

Street Address

1913 Cambridge Road
Cambridge
Waikato 3434

Postal Address

20 Hammond Street
Hamilton Central
Hamilton
Waikato 3204

This page was last updated at 6:05PM on August 8, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Joe Baker - Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon.