About George D. Picetti, III, MD
George D. Picetti, III, M.D., is a highly specialized minimally-invasive adult and pediatric spine surgeon at the Sutter Neuroscience Medical Group and Sutter Neuroscience Institute at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento.
Known internationally for his minimally-invasive approach to scoliosis treatment, Dr. Picetti has developed new treatment options for adults and children with scoliosis and degenerative lumbar disorders. His innovative approach to spine and scoliosis surgery minimizes incision scarring and reduces the amount of damage to tissue and blood loss occurring during surgery. In addition, he is widely recognized as the expert in highly complex adult deformity and reconstruction.
Education and Experience
Dr. Picetti earned a medical degree at Creighton University. His internship and residency were at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital. He followed his general surgical training as a research associate and an Orthopaedic Residency at the San Francisco Orthopaedic Resident Training Program at St. Mary's Hospital. Dr. Picetti was an Orthopaedic Spine Fellow at the Texas Back Institute.
Dr. Picetti has authored a combination of over 30 peer-reviewed articles and has an active interest in research. He has traveled internationally to address the latest advancements in spine surgery. Dr. Picetti has more than 10 years experience treating and teaching in numerous developing countries and currently serves as the director of Spine Overseas, a volunteer-based program for orthopedic and neurosurgeons to treat complex spinal pathologies in developing countries.
Dr. Picetti is one of the most widely recognized minimally invasive spine surgeons. In the mid-1990s Dr. Picetti began to pioneer an endoscopic instrumentation for the treatment of scoliosis. Endoscopes allow the surgeon to see inside the body and operate through small incisions called portals.
Using this technique for scoliosis and spine surgery, scars are dramatically less noticeable, blood loss during surgery is reduced, there is less disruption to the rib cage, muscles and other soft tissues, post-operative pain is lessened, fewer days are spent in the hospital, and rehabilitation and recovery are easier and faster.
Professional Interests
Dr. Picetti specializes in complex adult and pediatric spine surgery and spine deformity reconstruction. He treats patients with a wide-range of spine disorders including scoliosis, spine bifida, kyphosis, congenital and developmental spinal abnormalities, tumors, infections and fractures.
Dr. Picetti specializes in treating children with scoliosis and other spine abnormalities, and is head of minimally invasive spine surgery at the Children's Center. The goal of the Children's Center is to provide each child access to the most advanced surgical treatments, including minimally invasive treatment options. Using a patient- and family-centered care approach to care, Dr. Picetti can tailor an individual treatment plan for each child and explain the plan to the family. When a minimally invasive surgical treatment is an option (surgery without the large incision), children are able to spend less time recovering in the hospital and are able to get back to their pain-free lifestyles much faster than traditional surgeries.
Publications
1. G.D.Picetti, III. CD Horizon Eclipse. Spinal Instrumentation. Thieme Medical Publishing, New York, NY, 464-477, 2005.
2. G. D. Picetti, III. Minimally Invasive Instrumentation Correction and Fusion of T-L Scoliosis, Double Major Scoliosis & Kyhposis." Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Society, Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery 12, No.5, 34, 2005.
3. G. D. Picetti, III. Thorascopic Instrumentation Correction and Fusion of Thoracic Scoliosis. Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Society, Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery 12, No.5, 35, 2005.
4. G. D. Picetti III, Micheal Yee. Minimally Invasive Instrumentation Correction and Fusion of Primary Thoracic and Thoracolumbar Scoliosis. Endoscopic Spine Surgery and Instrumentation. Thieme Medical Publishing, New York, NY, 149-161, 2004.
5. G. D. Picetti III, Dachling Pang. Thorascopic Techniques for the treatment of Scoliosis. Childs Nervous System, Vol. 20, numbers 11-12:p. 802-810, November 2004.
6. G. D. Picetti III, H.U. Bueff, Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Minimally Invasive Instrumented Techniques. Modern Anterior Scoliosis Surgery, pp. 543-556, 2004.
7. G. D. Picetti, III, M.D., Donald K. Mathews, M.D. Anterior Scoliosis Reduction/Fixation: Open and Endoscopic. Master Techniques in Orthopeadic Surgery, The Spine pp. 167-183, 2004.
8. G. D. Picetti, III, M.D., Janos P. Ertl M.D. Endoscopic Treatment for Thoracic and Thoracolumbar Scoliosis. Atlas of Minimal Access Spine Surgery 2nd Edition, pp.423-438, 2004.
9. G. D. Picetti III, Dachling Pang, H. U. Bueff. Thorascopic Techniques for the treatment of Scoliosis: Results in early Procedure Development. Neurosurgery, 51:987-984, October 2002.
10. G. D. Picetti III, H. U. Bueff. Minimally Invasive Instrumentation Correction and Fusion of Thoracolumbar Scoliosis. European Spine Journal, 11(S1) 41, 2002.
11. George D. Picetti, III, M.D., Preface: Endoscopic Spinal Surgery, Miwashoten, Tokyo, Japan, 2002.
12. G. D. Picetti III, Janos P. Ertl, M.D, H.U. Bueff. Anterior endoscopic Correction of Scoliosis. Orthop Clin N Am 33, 421-429, 2002.
13. G. D. Picetti III. Minimally Invasive Techniques for Spinal Surgery. Orthopedics Today, August, 15-17, 2002.
14. G. D. Picetti III, Janos P. Ertl, M.D, H.U. Bueff. Endoscopic Instrumentation Correction and Fusion of Thoracic Idiopathic Scoliosis. The Spine Journal, May-June, 1, No. 3, 190-7, 2001.
15. G. D. Picetti III, H. U. Bueff, M.S. Yee. Anterior Endoscopic Correction and Instrumentation of Idiopathic Scoliosis. Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery 7, No.2, 340, 2000.
16. H. U. Bueff, G. D. Picetti III, M.S. Yee. Anterior Endoscopic Correction and Instrumentation of Idiopathic Scoliosis. European Spine Journal, 8 (S21) 30-31, 1999.
17. George D. Picetti, III, M.D., Kelly O'Neal, M.D. Ronald Blackman, M.D.,Edwardo Luque, M.D. Correction and Fusion Of Thoracic Scoliosis Using an Endoscopic Approach. Orthopaedic Transactions 22 (2): 643 1998 - 1999.
18. George D Picetti, III, M.D., Ronald G. Blackman, M.D., Kelley O'Neal M.D., Edwardo Luque, M.D. Anterior Endoscopic Correction and fusion of Scoliosis. Orthopedics, 21 (12): 1285-87, 1998.
19. George D. Picetti, III, M.D., Jeffery Moore, M.D., Jeffery Smith, M.D., Ronald Blackman, M.D., Kelly O'Neal, M.D. Evolution of the Techniques of the Anterior Thoracic and Lumbar Spine. In Devlin VJ (ed): Anterior Spinal Column Surgery. Spine: State of the Art Reviews, Vol. 12, No.3. Philadelphia, Hanley & Belfus, Inc., 1998.
20. George D. Picetti, III, M.D., Ronald Blackman, M.D., Kelly O'Neal, M.D. Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy (VATS) in the Treatment of Congenital Hemivertebra. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 79-B: 289, 1997.
21. George D. Picetti, III, M.D., Ronald Blackman, M.D., Kelly O'Neal, M.D. Preliminary Results of Endoscopic Procedures on the Anterior Thoracic Spine. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 79-B: 289, 1997.
22. Marc E. Pollock, M.D., Kelly O'Neal, M.D., George D. Picetti, III, M.D., Ronald G. Blackman, M.D. The Results of Video-Assisted Exposure of the Anterior Thoracic Spine in Idiopathic Scoliosis. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1996; 62: 1818-23.
23. John J. Regan, M.D., Michael J. Mack, M.D., George D. Picetti, III, M.D. A Technical Report on Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy in Thoracic Spinal Surgery. Spine, Volume 20, Number 7, pp. 831-837, 1995.
24. George D. Picetti, III, M.D., Ronald Blackman, M.D., Kelly O'Neal, M.D. Alternative Technique for Thoracoscopic Releases in Pediatric Patients. Atlas of Endoscopic Spine Surgery, pp. 225-231, 1995.
25. Ronald Blackman, M.D., George D. Picetti, III, M.D, Kelly O'Neal, M.D. Arthroscopic Microdiscectomy. Lumbar and Thoracic Spine Care Operative Treatment, Volume 2, 1995, pp. 1002-1016.
26. McAfee, P.C., Fedder, I., Geis, P., Picetti, III, G.D., Regan, J.J., Hein, S. The Incidence of Complications in Endoscopic Anterior Thoracolumbar Spinal Surgery. Spine 20, (14), 1624-1632, 1995.
27. Mack, M.J., Regan, J.J., McAfee, P.C., Picetti, III, G.D., Ben-Yishay, A., Acuff, T.E. Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) for the Anterior Approach to the Spine. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 59: 1100-6, 1995.
28. George D. Picetti, III, M.D., Ronald Blackman, M.D., Kelly O'Neal, M.D. Alternative Technique for Thorascopic Release in Pediatric Patients. Atlas of Endoscopic Spine Surgery, pp.225-231, 1995.
29. Regan, J.J., Mack, M.J., Picetti, III, G.D. A Comparison of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic (VAT) to Open Thoracotomy in Thoracic Spinal Surgery. Orthopaedic Transactions, 18 (1): 112, 1994.
30. Picetti, III, G.D., Blackman, R.G. Diagnosis and Management of Scoliosis. Hospital Physician, 1 (3) 3-15, 1994.
31. Regan, J.J., Mack, M.J., Picetti, III, G.D., et al. A Comparison of Video-Assisted Thorascopic Surgery (VATS) With Open Thoracotomy in Thoracic Spinal Surgery. Today's Therapeutic Trends, 11:203-218, 1994.
32. Regan, J.J., Mack, M.J., Picetti, III, G.D., Guyer, R.D., Hochschuler, S.H., Rashbaum, R.F. A Comparison of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VAT) with Open Thoracotomy in Thoracic Spine Surgery. The Journal of New Developments in Clinical Medicine, 11, (4), 203-218, 1994.
33. Zuckerman, J., Hsu, K., Picetti, III, G.D., Wynne, G., Taylor, L. Clinical Efficacy of Spinal Instrumentation in Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease. Spine, 17 (7) 834-836, 1992.
34. Schofferman, L., Zucherman, J., Schofferman, J., Hsu, K., Gunthrope, H., Picetti, III, G.D., Goldwaite, N., White, A. Diptheroids and Associated Infections as a Cause of Failed Instrument Stabilization Procedures in the Lumbar Spine. Spine, 16, (3) 356-358, 1991.
35. Picetti, III, G.D., McGann, W.A., Welch, R.B. The Patellofemoral Joint After Total Knee Arthroplasty Without Resurfacing. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 72-A: 1379-82, 1990.
36. Zucherman, J., Hsu, K., Picetti, III, G.D., Wynne, G., White, A. Clinical Efficacy of Spinal Instrumentation in Lumbar Degenerative Disease. Orthopaedic Transactions, 14 (1): 21, 1990.
37. Derby R., Zucherman, J., Picetti, III, G.D., Hsu, K., White, A., Wynne, G. Cervical Epidural Corticosteroid Injection in Degenerative Disease. Orthopaedic Transactions 14 (1): 21, 1990.
38. Schofferman, L., Schofferman, J., Zucherman, J., Gunthorpe, H., Hsu, K., Picetti, III, G.D., Goldthwaite, N., White, A. Occult Infections Causing Persistent Low Back Pain. Spine, 14 (4) 417-419, 1989.
39. Floyd, T., Picetti, III, G.D., Schneider, R. Tibial Tubercle Avulsion: A Case Report. The Physician and Sports Medicine, 17 (8) 79-81, 1989.
40. Welch, R.B., McGann, W.A., Floyd, T., Picetti, III, G.D. Retrieval of Fractured Cemented Femoral Stems. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 71-A: 918-919, 1989.
41. Schofferman, L., Schofferman, J., Zucherman, J. Hsu, K., White, A., Gunthorpe, H., Picetti, III, G.D., Goldthwaite, N. Experience with Occult Infections of the Lumbar Spine. Orthopaedic Transactions, 13 (1): 18, 1989.
42. Zucherman, J., Derby, R., Hsu, K., Goldthwaite, N., White, A., Picetti, III, G.D. MRI Scan Does Not Replace Discography. Orthopaedic Transactions, 13 (1): 16, 1989.
43. Welch, R.B., McGann, W.A., Picetti, III, G.D. Charnley Low-Friction Arthroplasty: A Fifteen to Seventeen Year Follow-Up Study. The Orthopaedic Clinics of North America, Vol. 19, #3: 551-566, July 1988.
44. Zucherman, J., Derby, R., Hsu, K., Picetti, III, G.D., Kaiser, J., Schofferman, J., Goldthwaite, N., White, A. Normal Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Abnormal Discography. Spine, 13 (12): 1355-1359, 1988.
45. Schofferman, L., Schofferman, J., Zucherman, J. Hsu, K., White, A., Gunthorpe, H., Picetti, III, G.D., Goldthwaite, N. Occult Infections Causing Low Back Pain and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. Orthopaedic Transactions, 12 (3): 630, 1988.
46. Zucherman, J., Schofferman, L., Schofferman, J., Hsu, K., White, A., Gunthorpe, H., Picetti, III, G.D., Goldthwaite, N. Diphtheroid and Associated Infections as a Cause of Failed Instrument Procedures in the Lumbar Spine. Orthopaedic Transactions, 12 (3): 613-632, 1988.
47. McGann, W.A., Welch, R.B., Picetti, III, G.D. Acetabular Preparation in Cementless Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty. Clinical Orthopaedic and Related Research. #235, 35-46, October 1988.
48. Dworzack, D.L., Bartlet, M.A., Baily, R.T., Fitzgibbons, R.J., Reich, J.W., Picetti, III, G.D. Origins of Aztreonam Resistance. Clinical Pharm. Jan-Feb 4 (1): 23-4, 1985.
49. Dworzack, D.L., Bartlet, M.A., Baily, R.T., Fitzgibbons, R.J., Reich, J.W., Picetti, III, G.D. Emergence of Resistance to Aztreonam. Clinical Pharm. Sept - Oct 3 (5) 460, 470, 1984.
Articles Written by George D. Picetti, III, MD
Articles Reviewed by George D. Picetti, III, MD
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