About Dr. Gene Massey

Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr. Massey’s Thoughts and Approach With Patients

What led you to the practice of medicine?

I had an uncle, who was a physician, and I always really looked up to him, and that got me interested to some extent. My mother was in the medical field as well, and I certainly respected her a great deal and wanted to follow in her footsteps. I’ve always been Mr. Fix-It as well, around the house and in life, so being in the OR and seeing orthopedic surgeons working with their tools and putting things back together, I think, was the first thing that drew me to medicine and to orthopedics.

What are your thoughts on minimally invasive spine surgery?

I think minimally invasive spine surgery has really changed the way people can seek out and get treatment for back problems in a way that they previously couldn’t. I think it opens up the door for treatment to a larger number of people who previously couldn’t tolerate spine surgery or were afraid to have a treatment for their back. It’s given me the tools to treat them in a minimally invasive way with a lot fewer risks, with the ability to get them in and out of the operating room in a quicker fashion, get them in and out of the hospital faster as well, and also to avoid traditional open surgery in a lot of folks. However, surgery, no matter how minimally invasive, isn’t always the answer. I think there are a lot of treatments for back pain and neck pain and pinched nerve pain that can help people avoid surgery with a lot of the new minimally invasive techniques that aren’t what we traditionally think of as surgery.

What sets your practice apart from others?

At OrthoSC we have over 20 orthopedic surgeons, including some specialists from every area. That’s nice in the sense that we can take care of any complaint that you have under one roof. We also have a lot of treatment options, at 3 separate locations, where all of our physicians work. We have 3 MRI scanners. We have multiple physical therapy locations. We have on-site pain management at each location that can help with medical treatment as well as a number of minimally invasive non-surgical options for back and neck pain. We can also accommodate people who need injections in a fast way. We really pride ourselves in getting patients seen early. We understand back and neck pain sometimes can’t wait, and we make an effort to get people in, in a very timely manner.

What are your thoughts on patient education and your patients?

When you have a visit, or patient appointment, to see me, I’ll sit down and listen to your symptoms. I’ll take time to learn about the things you have tried in the past. I’ll take the time to learn the things that have and have not worked for you. I’ll perform a physical exam and get radiographs or an MRI here at the office. We have on-site X-rays and MRIs available. We’ll view those images with you. If you’ve had images from the outside, I’ll be able to view those images. And we’ll go over what all of this means and how it relates to your symptoms. And then we’ll discuss all the treatment options available to you that specifically address these issues. As you go through medical education to become a doctor, you really get an appreciation and a passion for learning and for teaching, so I want all of my patients to understand what is causing their pain and understand that they have options regarding the treatments.

Most of my treatments and patients, I’d say 80% to 90% of people, get treated in a non-operative fashion. I’m a big proponent of non-operative treatment and saving surgery for the last resort. That’s part of the education process, working together to discover the best course of treatment, which often begins with non-operative treatments.

What is your training and background?

I completed a spine surgery fellowship at Duke University, and I worked with orthopedic spine surgeons as well as neurosurgeons. I was able to learn a great deal about spinal anatomy, open surgical techniques, as well as minimally invasive surgical techniques. I learned procedures from both orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons and was able to basically take things from each that I felt could benefit my patients and bring them here to the Myrtle Beach area.

In the past, a lot of patients from Myrtle Beach have been required to go outside of Horry County in order to get treatment for their spinal – basically get treated for their neck or back. A lot of times, that required a trip to MUSC or to Duke in order to get evaluated for anything from scoliosis to disc herniations. Now, with the ability and facilities we have here at OrthoSC, we can offer advanced imaging, injections, and minimally invasive surgical techniques. We can offer those same services to the patient without having to leave their hometown or county.

Dr. Massey is a fellowship trained Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in Spine Surgery. He is dedicated to providing comprehensive care of all back, neck, and spine conditions and has received extensive training in minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Massey comes to the Grand Strand from Duke University Medical Center, where he served as faculty while completing his fellowship training in Spine Surgery. He developed his South Carolina roots during his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at the University of South Carolina, where he was named Resident of the Year as a Chief. Raised in Kentucky, Dr. Massey received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Louisville, where he graduated with highest distinction.

Dr. Massey has also been recognized for his clinical research. He has co-authored papers on the treatment of adult scoliosis, cervical myelopathy, and lumbar facet cysts. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the AO Spine Foundation, and the International Spine Intervention Society.

Dr. Massey is available to see new patients at our state-of-the-art facility in Carolina Forest.