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	Chris Plastaras, MD Director, Penn Spine Center

General Information
The Penn Spine Center at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for patients with low back pain, neck pain, hip pain, knee pain, shoulder pain and other musculoskeletal complaints. 

State-of-the-art imaging and testing facilities, an interdisciplinary approach, and support of the advanced technology and resources of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center make the Penn Spine Center one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive facilities of its kind.

Therapeutic Approach
For each patient a specific diagnosis is made. Treatment is individualized - neck and back pain are not treated generically. Kinetic chain and biomechanical analyses also are integrated into patient care with focus on return to function, work, and play.  Fundamental concepts of the program are reliance on the judicious use of passive modalities, concentration on reactivation of the patient to the fullest extent possible using physical therapeutics, and avoidance of surgery whenever feasible. All non-operative and non-opioid medication treatment options are thoroughly explored.  Surgery will be advised when non-operative care cannot achieve the necessary results.

Features of the Program Comprehensive Integrated Care
The Penn Spine Center, based in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, includes specialists from disciplines throughout the Medical Center who are subspecialists in spinal care.  The Penn Spine Center coordinates subspecialists from multiple disciplines including physiatry (PM&R), physical therapy, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, anesthesia, internal medicine, rheumatology, psychology, neurology, and radiology to obtain a comprehensive assessment as appropriate to needs of the patient.

Testing and Imaging
Electrodiagnostic testing is available within the center and full array of state of the art radiologic imaging is conveniently located on medical center campus.

Non-operative Procedures
Interventional procedures through a needle include fluoroscopically guided spinal injections including facet joint injections, epidural injections, caudal injections, selective nerve injections, sacroiliac joint injections, discograms, trigger point injections, peripheral nerve injections, shoulder/knee/hip joint injections, radiofrequency ablation procedures and intradiscal procedures.

Academic Mission

As part of our mission, we educate and empower the next generation of physical medicine & rehabilitation doctors (physiatrists).
This occurs in the university setting with the comprehensive evaluation and management of the patients with hands-on teaching.
Expect to receive care from our team which includes medical assistants, nurses, x-ray technicians, medical students, resident physicians, and fellow physicians.
Resident physicians in our clinic are doctors receiving training in physical medicine & rehabilitation.
The Spine & Sports Fellows are board eligible or board certified physical medicine & rehabilitation physicians who have completed medical school and residency training. They have chosen to spend an additional year to sharpen their skills in the field of spine and sports medicine.
Dr. Plastaras is the Spine Center Director and the Director of the Fellowship Program.  He works closely with the Spine & Sports Fellows to deliver patient care.
Dr. Plastaras will formulate the plan of care which will be executed with the help of his clinical staff and the Spine & Sports Fellows.
Therefore, it is customary for the Spine & Sports Fellow to execute this follow up care as outlined by Dr. Plastaras.
To maintain quality medical care, review of response to injections and review of test results (x-ray, MRI, EMG, labs) will be done in person during an office visit.