Dr. Jacob Fleming

“We learn traditionally that bone metastasis is terminal.” 一 Or is it? In this episode of the BackTable MSK podcast, host Dr. Jacob Fleming welcomes Dr. Francis Lee, a leading figure in orthopedic oncology, to discuss advancements in treating skeletal metastasis. Dr. Lee, the Wayne O. Southwick Professor from Yale and President-elect of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, shares his innovative AORIF (Ablation, Osteoplasty, Reinforcement and Internal Fixation) technique, which emphasizes collaboration between orthopedic oncologists and interventional radiologists.

As our understanding of pain physiology evolves, neuromodulation continues to offer new treatment possibilities in MSK pain management. In this episode of the BackTable MSK, host Jacob Fleming discusses the evolving world of neuromodulation with Dr. Timothy Deer, a leading expert in the field. Dr. Deer shares insights from his extensive career and his innovative contributions in neuromodulation.

Where does cryoneurolysis fit in contemporary pain management? In this episode of Backtable MSK, host Jacob Fleming is joined by Dr. Alexa Levey to discuss the role of cryoneurolysis in various pain presentations, covering indications, anatomical targets, and techniques in different clinical scenarios.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) embolization is emerging as a transformative, minimally-invasive option for various chronic pain conditions. In this week’s episode of Backtable MSK, host Dr. Jacob Fleming talks with Dr. Ahmed Farag, an interventional radiologist with expertise in MSK embolization. The conversation covers practice building, tools, and techniques.

Intradiscal ozone offers a minimally invasive approach to disc pain that can reduce inflammation and restore function. How well does it work and where does it fit in the lumbar radiculopathy treatment algorithm? In this episode of the Backtable MSK Podcast, host Jacob Fleming speaks with Dr. Alexis Kelekis about the contemporary role of intradiscal ozone and emerging innovations in interventional spine treatment.

Attention radiologists: Were you trained to look for Tarlov cysts when reading spine MRI? In this episode of Backtable MSK, interventional neuroradiologist Dr. Kieran Murphy joins the studio to discuss the serious issue of chronic pain related to Tarlov cysts, a condition often overlooked in both diagnosis and treatment. Tarlov cysts, also known as perineural cysts, are fluid-filled sacs that form due to the dilation of the subarachnoid space around spinal nerve roots, most commonly at the base of the spine.

We’ve had many discussions about the technical aspects of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty on BackTable MSK. However, in this episode, we take a deeper look into the history of these procedures, exploring early research controversies and the challenges that threatened their existence. Our host, Dr. Jacob Fleming, is joined in the BackTable Studio by interventional neuroradiologist Dr. Joshua Hirsch, who was in San Diego for the ASSR 2025 meeting. Dr. Hirsch is the Chief of the Interventional Spine Service at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Musculoskeletal embolization is generating significant excitement in the field of chronic pain management. In this episode, Dr. Jacob Fleming hosts a discussion with Dr. Yuji Okuno from Japan, a pioneer in both basic science and clinical practice within the field of musculoskeletal embolization.

Musculoskeletal embolization is generating significant excitement in the field of chronic pain management. In this episode, Dr. Jacob Fleming hosts a discussion with Dr. Yuji Okuno from Japan, a pioneer in both basic science and clinical practice within the field of musculoskeletal embolization.

Vertebral augmentation for degenerative disc disease has traditionally been performed using cement injections. However, new biomaterials are emerging that may offer more precise targeting of the vertebral discs, potentially leading to higher patient satisfaction. In this episode of Backtable MSK, Dr. Olivier Clerk-Lamalice discusses significant advances in the treatment of degenerative disc disease, with a particular focus on disc augmentation using intradiscal hydrogel. This episode marks the third and final installment in our series on degenerative disc disease with Dr. Clerk-Lamalice.

Degenerative disc disease, a major cause of low back pain, is the most common musculoskeletal issue worldwide, affecting an estimated 15-30% of the population. In this episode of BackTable MSK, interventional radiologists Dr. Olivier Clerk-Lamalice and Dr. Jacob Fleming cover symptomatic degenerative disc disease, focusing on its diagnosis and treatment with anesthetic injections. This is the first episode in a two-part series on discogenic back pain.

The lumbar discogram is a cornerstone of musculoskeletal (MSK) radiology, as it enables interventionalists to pinpoint the exact level of discogenic back pain. In this episode of Backtable MSK, the Dr. Olivier Clerk-Lamalice and host Dr. Jacob Fleming explore the techniques and applications of the discogram, a procedure highly valued for its effectiveness in both diagnosis and pain management.

Robot-assisted technology has revolutionized surgical fields such as general surgery and urology—could interventional radiology be the next frontier? In this episode of the BackTable podcast, host Dr. Jacob Fleming explores the transformative potential of robotic-assisted percutaneous biopsies and ablations with experts Dr. Govindarajan “Raj” Narayanan from the Miami Cancer Institute and Dr. Sean Tutton from UC San Diego.

Robot-assisted technology has revolutionized surgical fields such as general surgery and urology—could interventional radiology be the next frontier? In this episode of the BackTable podcast, host Dr. Jacob Fleming explores the transformative potential of robotic-assisted percutaneous biopsies and ablations with experts Dr. Govindarajan “Raj” Narayanan from the Miami Cancer Institute and Dr. Sean Tutton from UC San Diego.

How can we ensure long-term spine health after tumor ablation? In this follow-up to our previous discussion, Dr. Glade Roper returns to the show to focus on early kyphoplasty treatment for ablation patients, aiming to prevent kyphosis and postural fatigue syndrome.

Spine metastases are often painful and can impair a patient's ability to lie flat for radiation therapy. However, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can address the bulk of the tumor and provide significant pain relief, enabling the patient to undergo radiation therapy. In this episode of BackTable MSK, musculoskeletal radiologist Dr. Glade Roper discusses his experience with spinal tumor RFA, his role on a multidisciplinary oncology team, and key considerations when planning for ablation.

How are orthobiologics transforming the back pain treatment algorithm? In this episode of BackTable MSK, host Jacob Fleming is joined by Dr. Guilherme Ferreira Dos Santos to discuss the management of lumbar pain and the role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Dr. Santos is trained in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation as well as Interventional Pain Medicine, and currently practices at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona.

Acetabular lesions present unique challenges for interventionalists due to their location within the pelvis. In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Jason Levy, an experienced practitioner in musculoskeletal interventional oncology based in Atlanta, Georgia, about techniques for ablating acetabular lesions.

Acetabular lesions present unique challenges for interventionalists due to their location within the pelvis. In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Jason Levy, an experienced practitioner in musculoskeletal interventional oncology based in Atlanta, Georgia, about techniques for ablating acetabular lesions.

More often than not, a surgical innovation is not the result of an overnight success, but rather the result of iterative improvements on a tool or technique that leads to better outcomes. In this episode of the BackTable MSK Podcast, we interview Dr. Jim Marino, a retired orthopedic surgeon and prolific medtech innovator. Dr. Marino gives us an inside look at his extensive career, detailing his role in orthopedic device innovation and the trials and tribulations that he faced along the way.

Cervical and thoracic epidural steroid injections (ESIs) can offer relief for patients with chronic pain; however, these procedures can carry serious risks. Providers should be well-trained to anticipate and mitigate these risks before treating patients with ESIs. In this episode of the Backtable MSK Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Chris Beck and Dr. Jacob Fleming dive deep into various techniques and considerations for performing ESIs.

An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive technique used to treat back pain. Providers from various specialties and settings can learn and offer this procedure. In this episode of the Back Table MSK Podcast, hosts Jacob Fleming and Chris Beck share their experiences and techniques for performing ESIs.

Dr. Jacob Fleming and Dr. Douglas Beall dive into the intricacies of sacroplasty, including considerations for selecting cement volume, efficacy of small versus large needles, and biomechanics of the pelvis.

Dr. Jacob Fleming and Dr. Douglas Beall dive into the intricacies of sacroplasty, including considerations for selecting cement volume, efficacy of small versus large needles, and biomechanics of the pelvis.