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EDUCATION AND HONORS
James S. Fister, M.D., is a
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon who has been in practice with Orthopedic
& Spine Surgery Associates for over 20 years. After graduating from the
University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, he attended
the University of Illinois College of Medicine and was inducted into the
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. His post-graduate medical training
included a Residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s
Medical Center in Chicago where he received the Chicago Trauma Society
Award, the Walter P. Blount Award of the Scoliosis Research Society, and the
Berg-Sloat Traveling Fellowship. He then performed a Fellowship in Spinal
Surgery sponsored by Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center and
Shriners’ Hospital for Crippled Children, Chicago. He continues to have an
academic appointment as an Instructor at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s
Medical Center, Chicago.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
GENERAL ORTHOPEDICS:
His practice is divided between General
Orthopedics and Spinal Surgery. General Orthopedics includes the treatment
of congenital and developmental abnormalities, trauma and fractures, tumors
and arthritis. In evaluating these conditions, a detailed history and
physical exam is performed followed by obtaining and personally reviewing
appropriate x-rays, CT scans and MRI films in order to determine a diagnosis
and treatment plan. Non-surgical and surgical options are discussed with the
patient, the advantages and disadvantages and risks of each option are
detailed, then together the patient and Dr. Fister decide on the
individualized treatment for that patient. The treatment can vary from rest
and reassurance, to medications, to bracing, to physical therapy, to
cortisone injections or to surgery. General Orthopedic Surgeries commonly
performed by Dr. Fister include: Fracture stabilization, knee arthroscopy
for cartilage tears, rotator cuff tear reconstruction, endoscopic carpal
tunnel syndrome release, and knee and hip replacement.
SPINAL SURGERY:
The management of spinal problems is
complex in that it involves both the structural function of the spine as
well as the neurologic function. Dr. Fister’s Fellowship in Spinal Surgery
and his detailed systematic approach allow him to evaluate and manage these
complicated conditions.
The most common spinal surgery performed
is the treatment of a lower back herniated disc. The disc acts as a shock
absorber between adjacent bony blocks of the spinal column. The disc is
located close to the nerve sac and nerve roots, but in the normal situation
does not press on these neurologic structures. When the disc herniates then
part of the disc ruptures out and compresses the nerves, producing pinched
nerve symptoms down the leg. These pinched nerve symptoms may include
“sciatica” pain or leg numbness or even weakness in the leg. Through a
minimal incision in the lower back, the ruptured portion of the disc can be
removed, thus decompressing the nerves to relieve the symptoms.
Discs can also rupture in the neck
(cervical spine). In this case the patient usually develops neck pain and
pain or numbness or weakness in the arm since the nerves coming out of the
cervical spine travel down the arm. This condition is treated through a
small incision in the front of the neck which allows removal of the disc
that is herniated, thus decompressing the neurologic structures, followed by
fusion of that one level. This surgery is called “anterior cervical
discectomy and fusion” and it has a very high success rate in relieving the
patient’s symptoms.
Lumbar spondylolisthesis is another common
lower back painful condition that can benefit from surgery. In
spondylolisthesis, one segment of the spine has slipped forward in relation
to the spinal segment below it. The patient often feels lower back pain and
nerve pinch symptoms in the legs. The surgical correction of
spondylolisthesis involves decompressing the nerves and fusion of that
unstable spinal level.
PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Fister spends considerable time on the
pre-operative evaluation aspect of patient care. This is done to determine
whether surgical or non-operative care is the best treatment for that
individual patient. The treatment options are presented to the patient in
detail, then the patient is asked to take an active role in his/her health
care decision.
PRACTICE LOCATIONS
Dr. Fister sees patients in both the
Geneva and Elgin office locations. He performs surgery primarily at Delnor
Hospital, Provena St. Joseph Hospital and Sherman Hospital, as well as
Valley Ambulatory Service Center. |
