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Keep Up with the Latest Updates from Spine Associates

No More Pain

March 31, 2014 – Houston (KHOU11) Houston, TX – Dr. Richard Francis with Spine Associates helps you find the source of the pain and treat it once and for all.

Tiny Robot Makes Spine Surgery Safer

August 2, 2013 – HOUSTON (FOX 26) A doctor-owned hospital in Houston is offering the only FDA-approved robot for spine surgery. What makes it even more interesting, it’s smaller than a soda can!

Dr. Richard Francis Introduces Westside Mazor Robotic Spine Surgery Training

Dr. Francis, Director of Robotic Surgery, takes a visiting surgeon interested in performing robotic surgery through a complete live case study. CAUTION: GRAPHIC MATERIAL IS SHOWN.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain and Other Sources of Back Pain

Dr. Francis answers questions about Sacroiliac Joint Pain and Other Sources of Back Pain.

Press Releases

January 8, 2018

Chronic Back Pain Cure, No Matter the Cause! Dr. Richard R.M. Francis Although 80 % of all Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their lives only 10% ever determine the primary cause of their pain. Houston Spine Surgeon, Dr. Richard Francis has a long history of helping people from around the globe, young and old, to identify the true source of their back pain and provide the appropriate treatment and cure for their pain.

October 12, 2017

Back to Normal from Chronic Pain, Dr. Richard Francis’ Extraordinary Results Houston Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Dr. Richard R.M. Francis has been helping patients suffering from decades of chronic back pain to get Back to Normal since he founded Spine Associates in 2003. Many of his patients had seen other doctors, some had previous surgeries or treatments but were still in great pain…. until they found Dr. Francis who has helped them get back to normal and live pain free.

August 3, 2017

The Back Pain That’s Hard to Find, Low Back Pain and the Sacroiliac Joint One of the most common causes of lower back pain can come from a Sacroiliac Joint Disorder. Houston Spine Surgeon, Dr. Richard Francis treats this disorder with the iFuse Implant System, a minimally invasive surgical procedure that typically takes about an hour and requires one overnight stay in the hospital.

June 21, 2017

From Back Pain to “Back to Normal” Much Easier with Patient Ambassador Program New neck, back and spine patients facing the unknown at Spine Associates in Houston, Texas are paired up with former patients who have become ambassadors to lead them through the process.

March 29, 2017

From Wheelchair Bound to 1st Runner Up Miss Rodeo Texas Happily Married In May of 2009 a mother of a lovely daughter named Rachel received one of those horrible phone calls that no parent ever wants to receive. Donna Odem’s phone rang and was informed that her daughter had fallen 25 feet down a cliff while trying to rope swing into a river. Young Rachel Odem was Life Flighted to a hospital in Waco Texas.

February 17, 2017

New Mazor X Robotic System to be used by Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis, will be using the most up to date current robotic technology since the recent installation of the Mazor X Robotic System for spine surgery. Robotics in surgery is not just in the future anymore, it’s becoming the standard of care for providing the most accurate computerized assistance in surgery.

January 14, 2017

Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis Receives 2016 Best of Beaumont Award Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis has been selected to receive the Beaumont Texas 2016 “Best of Beaumont Award”. The “Best of Beaumont Award” is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses in the Beaumont Texas area.

December 21, 2016

68 Year Old Woman is Now Pain Free after 35 Years of Intense Back Pain 35 years after being involved in multiple accidents which caused damage to her neck and back, Patient Ambassador Yolanda Daigle is now free of the intense back pain she has suffered for decades. Only 8 months after back and neck surgery by Dr. Richard Francis, Daigle is hiking in Yosemite National Park in California.

November 2, 2016

Trisha Barnes Places 2nd in 5k Marathon 8 Months After Scoliosis Surgery Trisha Barnes does it again! Trisha, a Middle School Teacher in Vidor, TX and Patient Ambassador,  recently ran a 5k marathon just 8 months after spine surgery for scoliosis performed by Dr. Richard Francis, Founder of Spine Associates in Houston and Beaumont, Texas. Diagnosed with Scoliosis in Middle School, she is now a testimonial to the power of positive spirit, determination and will power.

September 14, 2016

Dr. Richard Francis & Spine Associates are all Settled into New Offices Houston Spine Surgeon, Dr. Richard Francis, Founder of Spine Associates in 2003 and his staff are all settled into their new office space. They now occupy the entire 6th floor at 9301 Southwest Freeway, Suite 600, Houston, TX 77074 and have all the extra facilities needed on the same floor for their patients including X-Ray Rooms, several Exam Rooms and Physical Therapy space.

May 28, 2016

Huge Success for Patient to Patient Ambassador Program at Spine Associates! Houston Texas: Spine Associates, founded by Dr. Richard Francis in 2003, instituted a Patient to Patient Ambassador Program that has become hugely successful for patients facing back or spine surgery. This immensely helps the person who has not had surgery to better understand what will take place, how everything works, what to expect and simply have the full support of another patient who has already gone through a very similar experience.

February 29, 2016

Trisha Barnes ran the Gusher 5k a few months after undergoing surgery for scoliosis Trisha Barnes, 30, ran the Gusher 5K three months after having scoliosis surgery. Barnes was cleared to run by her Houston spine surgeon three weeks ago, and three medical assistants came to Beaumont on Saturday to cheer her on. “Each of us has beamed with pride as we grasped what she did this morning,” said Dr. Richard Francis. “Everyone’s heart is swollen with pride.”

February 24, 2016

Scoliosis Early Detection & Diagnosis is Critical: Kay Jenkins Story  Scoliosis Case Study of Kay Jenkins, a 27 year old woman seen as a young teenage girl but not properly diagnosed and treated until finally contacting Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis, Founder of Spine Associates. After a thorough examination, Dr. Francis found that Jenkins had a loss of the natural curve of the spine and her scoliosis had progressed to the point she had a 39 degree curve from T10 to L3.

July 28, 2015

From Broke Down Cowboy to Back in the Saddle & CMSA Shootout: Frank Sears Story Frank Sears, Cowboy, Bike Enthusiast, Outdoorsman and all around tough guy finds relief after over 25 years of chronic back pain and decades of unsuccessful help in the past. At age 64 Frank Sears is Back in the Saddle competing on his horse in CMSA, (Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association), thanks to the help of Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis.

July, 14, 2015

Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis Selected For Texas Super Doctors 2015 List Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis, founder of Spine Associates and widely recognized as a leader in spine surgery was recently named for the fifth year in a row to the Texas Super Doctors 2015 List to be published in Texas Monthly Magazine’s December 2015 Issue.

July 9, 2015

HOSH has Name Change but Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis Still Present – In a recent move to increase greater access to high quality comprehensive orthopedic and spine care, Memorial Hermann has acquired the local Bellaire area hospital most frequently referred to as HOSH, Houston Orthopedic and Spine Hospital. One of the most highly regarded and respected HOSH Surgeons, Dr. Richard Francis, will continue to provide care for his patients at this newly renamed institution.

April 29, 2015

A Crisis Could be Looming in the US for Doctors, and Patients There are changes taking place that may dramatically affect doctors and their patients in the not too distant future. Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis shares his input on what is happening and why it’s so concerning for fellow doctors and all their patients.

February 25, 2015

Setting the Standards and Raising the Bar in Spine Surgery: Dr. Richard Francis Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis has once again been recognized in a major medical magazine publication. This time he’s featured in TexasMD, NsideTexas Medical Magazine.

January 21, 2015

Spine Surgeons Using Robots: A Winning Combination for Patient Care Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis has been featured on Becker’s Spine Review as one of 70 doctors using robotic technology to perform spine surgeries. Dr. Francis was among the first surgeons in the Houston area to perform robotic-guided spinal surgery and is CEO and Founder of Spine Associates

December 6, 2014

Announcing New Patient to Patient Ambassador Program for Spine Surgery Patients Renowned Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis of Spine Associates in Houston, Texas has developed and implemented a Patient to Patient Ambassador Program dedicated to patients that will be undergoing spine surgery.  

April 25, 2014

Dr. Richard Francis Facilitates Robotic Spine Surgery Training Lab at Westside Surgical Hospital Richard Francis, MD, is facilitating a robotic spine surgery training laboratory for spine surgeons at Westside Surgical Hospital in Houston.

April 24, 2014

Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis Training Doctors in Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery Labs Spine Associates Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis trains doctors in Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery Procedures using the Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System at Westside Surgical Hospital in Houston, Texas.

April 21, 2014

Spine Surgery…… with Robotic Assistance? Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis talks about some of the newest technology and the use of the robotics during spine surgery procedures. When asked about the future of robotic surgery and other advancements in the use of robotics in surgical procedures, Dr. Richard Francis stated, “I think that we are only limited by our imagination.”

March 25, 2014

Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis Featured in Small Business Trendsetters Magazine Dr. Richard Francis of Spine Associates with locations in Houston and Beaumont, Texas, has been featured on Small Business Trendsetters and has been “Spotlighted” as an Authority in His Field of Practice for his work with children and adults dealing with the debilitating disease of scoliosis.

March 3, 2014

Houston Spine Surgeon Dr. Richard Francis Uses Robotic Assisted Technology for the Greater Benefit for his Patients Dr. Francis shares his knowledge, experience and information about Robotic Assisted Spinal Surgery Procedures and how this great advancement in technology benefits his patients with more accuracy, less pain and a faster recovery time.

February 3, 2014

Mazor Robotics Sells Second Renaissance System to Westside Surgical Hospital The Renaissance system will be installed at Westside Surgical Hospital, where renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Richard Francis, regularly operates. It will be the second Renaissance system installed by Westside Surgical and will be used for clinical and training purposes.

March 16, 2013

Houston’s Westside Surgical Hospital Acquires Mazor Robotics’ Renaissance System CAESAREA, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mazor Robotics Ltd. (TASE:MZOR), a developer of innovative surgical robots and complementary products, today announced that Westside Surgical Hospital in Houston, Texas acquired its Renaissance™ system. The system will be used by the hospital’s renowned spinal surgeons, including Richard R.M. Francis, MD. This system marks the 7th Renaissance system in Texas and the 21st system in the U.S.

49 Spine Surgeons Using Robotic Technology Dr. Francis is CEO and founder of Spine Associates and a surgeon with Houston Orthopedic and Spine Hospital, which acquired the Renaissance system from Mazor. Dr. Francis was among the first surgeons in the Houston area to perform robotic-guided spinal surgery. He has a professional interest in treating both adult and pediatric deformity cases and artificial disc replacements.

February 15, 2012

Spine Associates Pioneers Mazor Robotics Spine Surgery in Houston, Texas Spine Associates will be the first Orthopedic Spine Specialty practice in Houston, Texas to offer Mazor Robotics spine surgeries, most of which are expected to be minimally invasive.

January 1, 2012

The New Generation of Robotic Guidance Systems Safety and precision are the cornerstones of successful surgical treatment and correction of spinal deformities. The Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System allows spine surgeons to better achieve these goals with both traditional open and minimal access surgery.

December 12, 2011

Houston Orthopedic and Spine Hospital, Dr. Richard Francis Purchase First Renaissance Robotic Spine Surgery System Mazor Robotics has signed a purchasing agreement for the first Renaissance robotic spine surgery system with Richard R. M. Francis, MD, of Spine Associates of Houston and the Houston Orthopedic and Spine Hospital (formerly Foundation Surgical Hospital in Bellaire, Texas), according to a Mazor news release.