Dr. James Chappuis of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery of Atlanta

Listen to a recording of the first hour of the show.

Listen to a recording of the second hour of the show.

This Sunday Dr. James Chappuis of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery of Atlanta will be discussing back and spinal health, including failed spinal surgery and how he helps patients who have experienced this.

Dr. James Chappuis of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery of Atlanta

James L. Chappuis, MD, FACS, is the visionary, founder, owner, senior orthopaedic spine surgeon and Chief Executive Officer of Orthopaedic & Spine Surgery of Atlanta, a/k/a SpineCenterAtlanta, a comprehensive physician guided spine care program in Atlanta (Buckhead), Georgia. Dr. Chappuis holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology Summa Cum Laude from The University of Toledo (Ohio) and a Doctorate of Medicine from the Medical College of Ohio (Toledo, Ohio). He completed his Internship with Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, two Residencies, first in general surgery at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and the second in orthopaedic surgery at the Campbell Clinic/University of Tennessee. Dr. Chappuis completed his AO Spine Fellowship with professor Jorgen Harms at Klinikum Karlsbad-Langensteinbach in Karlsbad, Germany.

Dr. Chappuis is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Board of Spine Surgery. He is a clinical instructor with Georgia Regents University (formerly the Medical College of Georgia) in Augusta, Georgia, and has staff privileges with the Emory University Hospital Midtown. Dr. Chappuis has served numerous hospitals in the role of secretary of the medical staff, chief of surgery, chairman-elect department of surgery, editorial board Medical Association of Atlanta, chief of orthopaedic surgery and head of orthopaedic department. He is licensed to practice medicine in the states of Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.

Dr. Chappuis has served as a Preceptor for the Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Clinical Training of Osteopathic Medical Students in 2002 for a total of 160 teaching hours. He has participated in Webinars for Becker’s Spine Review, “Driving Value and Outcomes in Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis”, moderated by Dr. Hal Matthews with questions and answers by Dr. Chappuis. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Spine Arthroplasty Society, Spine Arthroplasty Society, American College of Spine Surgeons, Georgia Orthopaedic Society, Atlant Orthopaedic Society, Medical Association of Georgia, Medical Association of Atlanta, Willis C Campbell Club and AO Alumni Association.

Dr. Chappuis has been recognized by Becker’s Orthopaedic, Spine & Pain Management Review’s “207 Spine Surgeons and Specialists to Know”, “89 Spinal Surgeon Device Inventors & Innovators to Know” and “90 Spinal Surgeon Device Inventors & Innovators to Know”. He co-authored a book in October 2004 with John Lee titled, “Doctor I’m Scared”, A Concise & Practical Guide to reducing the fears of surgery. He has been featured in numerous articles including “The Good Doctor”, Marietta Daily Journal, Lifestyle Section, September 3, 2002; “How to Avoid Lower Back Pain from Exercise”, Atlanta Sports & Fitness Magazine, Health Section, page 7, August 2002; “This Pioneering Spine Surgeon Uses the Latest Techniques and Technology, Some of Which he Developed”, Metro Atlanta MD News, November/December 2001, cover article.

Dr. Chappuis has been published extensively including The Spine Journal August 2001 and July 2009, the Journal of Spinal Disorders July 2007, The Physician and Sports Medicine April 1996, Rehab Management February/March 1996, and Spine May 1993. Currently accepted for publication by Jackson KL, Freedman BA, Rinkus K, Basra S, Hamilton M, and Chappuis JL, “Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: 2 Year Results with a Modular Interbody Device”, in the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques and The Spine Journal.

Involved extensively in research, Dr. Chappuis was the principal investigator for “Multicenter Clinical Investigation of the Simmons (Spinal) Plating System for Pedicel Screw Applications” (1992-1994). Current research projects include “Pain Relief from Removal of Pedicle Screws after Successful Lumbar Fusion”, to be submitted to the Journal Spine for publication, and “The Use of a New Modular Interbody Device for Anterior Lumbar Fusion”. He has presented and submitted numerous poster exhibits at the North American Spine Society, Orthopaedic Research Society Conference, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery.

As an inventor of new and innovative surgical products, Dr. Chappuis has been issued US Utility Patents for the Doppler Retractor, Flexible Tap Apparatus and Method of Use, Internal Pedicle Screw Insulator Apparatus and Method of Use, Facet Fusion System, Universal Surgical Power Tool Foot Pedal Apparatus, Expandable Pedicle Tap and Method, Fenestrated Surgical Screw, Fenestrated Surgical Anchor and the Protector Retractor. In addition, he has filed four US Utility Patents for Bite Guard, Devices and Methods for Temporarily Retaining Spinal Rootlets within Dural Sac, Modular Lumbar Interbody Fixation Systems with Reconstruction Endplates and Modular Lumbar Interbody Fixation System.

Dr. Chappuis has served numerous academic appointments, attended numerous scientific meetings, served board appointments, and performed civic and community service throughout his storied medical career. He enjoys art, horticulture, college and professional athletics, research and development and travel. He has a passion for helping patients to recover from debilitating spinal disorders using the latest surgical technology. For conditions which do not warrant surgery, Dr. Chappuis believes in the merging of customary medical techniques with complementary and holistic options to provide patients with the greatest chance to heal and recover. When Dr. Chappuis is not in surgery or caring for patients in his state-of-the-art spine center of excellence, you will find him hosting events at the Westside Cultural Arts Center in West Midtown Atlanta, where his passion for art is evidenced through his relationship with renowned art collector Fay Gold, curator for the Fay Gold Gallery at the Westside Cultural Arts Center.