![]() A member of the North American Spine Society, Constantine Toumbis, MD, draws upon nearly 20 years of orthopedic surgery experience in his role as spine surgeon at Florida's Citrus Spine Institute. Beyond his professional pursuits, Dr. Constantine Toumbis enjoys traveling with his wife. One of his favorite destinations is Toronto, Canada. Toronto is the largest city in Canada and one of the country's most prominent tourism hubs. Below are three attractions worth checking out in the city: 1. CN Tower - Upon its completion in 1976, the CN Tower, at 553 meters, was the world's tallest freestanding structure. It's highest viewing area is in the 447-meter-high Sky Pod, where visitors can, on clear days, see as far as Niagara Falls and New York State. More adventurous visitors can do the edge walk, in which they are attached to a safety harness and complete a hands-free walk along a 1.5-meter-wide ledge around the outside edge of the tower's main pod. 2. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) - Combining ancient artifacts and popular exhibitions from around the world in a building with a modern and sleek crystal-shaped design, the ROM is one of the most renowned museums in Canada. It was opened in 1914 and features galleries on ancient Rome and dinosaurs, among other areas of interest. 3. Toronto Islands - This cluster of small islands is a short ferry ride from Toronto's downtown core and offers biking trails, sandy beaches, and a small amusement park.
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![]() The owner of the Citrus Spine Institute in Crystal River, Florida, Constantine Toumbis, MD, is an accomplished spine surgeon who has completed a range of significant research projects. Dr. Constantine Toumbis served as a designer for the Arsenal, a next-generation pedicle screw from the spinal fusion technology company Alphatec. Although surgeons have been employing bone screws to correct spinal anomalies since the 1960s, the specific hardware and modalities that they use have changed a great deal. A specific type of bone screw, the pedicle screw has multiple characteristics to facilitate implantation into the vertebral pedicle, the stem-like structure that protrudes from the back of each human vertebra. Surgeons can implant pedicle screws to address instances of deformity and trauma by affixing spinal implants in place and/or immobilizing specific spinal sections. After using fluoroscopy or x-ray equipment to determine the ideal screw placement, surgeons drill receiving channels with the appropriate angles and depths before installing pedicle screws within the bone. ![]() Constantine Toumbis, MD, has been practicing as a spinal surgeon for more than 13 years. Now the owner of Citrus Spine Institute in Florida, Dr. Constantine Toumbis welcomes patients with spinal tumors. A spinal tumor can develop in or around the spinal cord or vertebrae. These growths can be difficult to diagnose because one of the primary symptoms is back pain, which is often indicative of a different and less serious condition. Pain from spinal tumors may be distinguishable because it is specific to a particular spot and worsens when that spot is directly manipulated. The pain may also be worse at night. Furthermore, because spinal tumors can develop anywhere along the spine, they can cause a varied set of symptoms that are inconsistent from one patient to the next. For most patients, the initial pain precedes neurological issues such as numbness or weakness of the limbs. Some patients may experience changes in their gait or trouble walking in the dark. Many patients notice a change in bowel or bladder habits, paralysis, or spinal curvature. Fortunately for patients, spinal tumors are much less common than other causes of back pain. A visit to a specialist and an MRI can usually determine whether a tumor is present. ![]() Dr. Constantine Toumbis has nearly 30 years of experience as an MD. A spine surgeon at Citrus Spine Institute in Crystal River, Florida, Dr. Constantine Toumbis understands when spinal surgery is warranted. If a patient has been living with back pain, the time will come when he or she will wonder if surgery could provide relief. However, for a spinal surgeon to consider a patient as a candidate, testing must reveal an anatomical cause of the pain. Common causes include bulging discs, ruptured discs, bone overgrowth, an unstable spine segment, or a structural deformity. Even in the presence of a visible anatomical abnormality, a surgeon will postpone surgery until conservative treatments have failed. Such treatments include physical therapy and pain relief medications. If the pain remains persistent and disabling despite these interventions, surgery may be an option. The exception to this rule is when a patient experiences particular symptoms, such as fever, loss of neurological function, or acute bladder or bowel incontinence. These symptoms may be a sign that damage to the back has become a medical emergency. ![]() Practicing in Crystal River, Florida, Constantine Toumbis, MD, offers patient-focused care at the Citrus Spine Institute. In his capacity at Citrus Memorial Hospital, Constantine Toumbis, MD, has extensive knowledge of the spine and how it relates to low back issues. The various lumbar spine conditions tend to be interrelated, with muscle issues such as strain related to repetitive use, bending, and heavy lifting. While they can cause extreme pain, muscle strains tend to get better within days or weeks of proper rest. A more serious issue involves degenerated discs, where the spongy “shock absorbers” that separate each vertebrae within the spine experience wear and tear and displacement that results in pain within the disc space. The lower back is where most disc herniations occur, with the intense pain causing damage cumulatively, with time, or all at once. A major symptom of the latter event, which may require surgical intervention, is sciatica, or leg pain that persists. ![]() Constantine Toumbis, MD, is a respected Crystal River, Florida-based medical practitioner who leads Citrus Spine Institute and provides patient-centered care for a variety of conditions. Experienced in treating osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, Constantine Toumbis counsels patients on osteoporosis prevention. While osteoporosis is associated with aging, steps to prevent its occurrence can begin from an early age. With the skeleton developing throughout the teenage years, adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D, and protein is vital in ensuring optimal bone growth. Other aspects of bone health include getting regular exercise and avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke. Peak bone mass is acquired in the mid-20s, and thereafter bone loss begins to occur. Slowing this natural process as an adult involves carrying on good habits developed as a youth, with proper nutrition paired with activities that require the bearing of weight. Strength training should ideally be combined with aerobic activities such as jogging and swimming, as well as disciplines such as yoga and tai chi. ![]() Dr. Constantine Toumbis is a Florida-based spine surgeon with an MD from Wayne State University School of Medicine and a PhD in experimental pathology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Involved in numerous charities, Dr. Constantine Toumbis served on the foundation board of Citrus Memorial Hospital and through this organization was involved in approving the development of a YMCA for the community's youth. A nonprofit with a strong emphasis on investing in the community, the YMCA offers many programs for children. One recent program is the Let's Move! Outside initiative, developed in attempt to encourage relationships between children and nature. The program involves two components: Every Kid in a Park. This initiative encourages children to get out and explore the natural beauty in their hometowns by granting fourth graders free access to more than 2,000 federally managed lands. Play, Learn, Serve, Work. Through a partnership with the National Park Service, this is an outdoor program that helps low-income and minority youth enjoy their first National Park experiences. ![]() A proficient spinal surgeon, Dr. Constantine Toumbis has years of experience as a professor, researcher, and writer. Currently, Dr. Constantine Toumbis applies his skills as a private practice physician at the Citrus Spine Institute in Florida, where he provides medical services that include anterior cervical decompression and fusion. A form of neck surgery, anterior cervical decompression and fusion is also known as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The procedure is done to correct instability or pain in the neck, or in response to conditions such as a cervical herniated disc or degenerative disc disease. The procedure utilizes an anterior approach (from the front) and takes place in two stages, beginning with an anterior cervical discectomy. In this first stage, an incision is made in the front of the neck to remove the damaged disc from the vertebrae. Once this is complete, the fusion takes place. Fusion surgery stabilizes and strengthens the area by inserting implants or a bone graft into the neck. The implant or bone graft takes the place of the removed disc. ![]() Constantine Toumbis, MD, performs spinal surgeries at Citrus Spine Institute in Crystal River, Florida. A regional leader in spine care, Constantine Toumbis, MD, has been repeatedly recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. Castle Connolly has helped the public choose the best health care professionals for more than 20 years. It publishes annual lists of leading physicians through the America's Top Doctors series to highlight the top-performing medical professionals in various specialties. Castle Connolly does not allow doctors to nominate themselves, and physicians never pay for consideration. Top Doctor candidates are nominated by their peers in the medical profession. All licensed MDs and DOs are welcome to submit nominations. Once a candidate is nominated, Castle Connolly's team of physician researchers thoroughly evaluates the nominee. The researchers consider each candidate's education, certifications, specialized training, academic and administrative appointments, and other qualifications. Disciplinary issues and malpractice concerns are also looked at during this process. After this review process, leading physicians become Top Doctors or National Top Doctors. ![]() Dr. Constantine Toumbis practices at Citrus Spine Institute in Crystal River, Florida. Fellowship trained and holding three advanced degrees, including a PhD and an MD, Dr. Constantine Toumbis stays active in his field through membership in several professional organizations, including the North American Spine Society (NASS). A multidisciplinary medical society operating at the global level, NASS promotes quality spine care through efforts that range from lobbying for effective public policy to publishing the peer-reviewed Spine Journal. It also funds research through a number of grants and fellowships. Each year, NASS provides critical financial support to researchers and clinicians at the discretion of its Research Project Management Committee. Both the total number of grants/foundations and amount of money distributed vary annually according to the merit of individual applications and the available assets of NASS. In addition to offering grants for research into the spine and into nontraditional spine treatments, NASS provides Young Investigator Grants that are open to MD and PhD recipients who are within five years of completing their postdoctoral training. The society also maintains two fellowships, the Clinical Traveling Fellowship and the Research Traveling Fellowship, both of which range from $3,000 to $7,000. The former allows recipients to spend a minimum of one month studying spine techniques at three to five medical facilities, while the latter allows recipients to spend a minimum of five months conducting spine research at a single medical center. |
AuthorA surgeon focusing on spinal care, Dr. Constantine Toumbis treats patients at Citrus Spine Institute. Archives
November 2021
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