Which Surgeon is Best For Spine Surgery?
The prospect of undergoing spine surgery can be daunting and it doesn’t take much to get overwhelmed. The human body is incredibly complicated and the spine is no exception. If you are dealing with the aftermath of a spinal cord injury or degenerative issues your doctor will likely refer you to a surgeon for complex spinal treatments.
When it comes to health and mobility everyone wants the best and when managing spinal surgery patients often have to choose between orthopaedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons. Both of these surgeons specialize in procedures involving the spine but are specially trained in specific treatment areas.
Choosing Between Neurosurgeons and Orthopaedic Spine Surgeons: Understanding the Disciplines
When most people think about neurosurgeons the brain is the first thing to come to mind. The truth is that neurosurgeons will often perform just as many procedures on spines as they do on brains. Neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons are both equally qualified to perform spine surgeries but they often specialize in different areas. Both of these surgical specialists can perform most types of spine surgery including cervical, thoracic, lumbar, including spinal cord and nerve decompression, spinal fusion, microsurgery and minimally-invasive spine surgery.
Before committing to a surgeon it is important to consider which type of procedure best suits your needs as a patient.
Neurosurgeons: It is easy to associate neurosurgeons with brain surgery but they do much more than just that. A neurosurgeon specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases or spinal disorders affecting the nervous system. These might include the brain, spinal column, spinal cord and all of the associated nerves and cerebrovascular system. This type of surgeon will often work with patients throughout the diagnosis and treatment but do not stay involved in rehabilitation programs.
Orthopaedic Spine Surgeons: With a specialty in orthopaedics, these surgeons will focus on the spine, back and neck. Unlike a neurosurgeon an orthopaedic spine surgeon will often remain with patients right from the initial diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention techniques for the future. With a focus on the musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, muscles and nerves, this type of surgeon is highly capable of treating spinal trauma and spinal deformity caused by chronic disorders.
Acting On Your Referral: Working With Your Doctor to Choose the Right Spine Surgeon
The reason that most patients initially seek help for spinal surgery is pain. More than staying in one distinct area spine disorders will often cause pain in other areas like the arms and legs. This additional pain can make daily life incredibly difficult so it is always better to seek out care as soon as possible. After speaking with a family doctor most patients will end up with a referral to a board certified surgeon that can help to diagnose and treat these issues.
Most patients will choose their surgeons based on recommendations of their friends, family or primary care physician. Everyone has different problems, each body will respond differently to a treatment and everyone has a different idea of what is considered good bedside manner for a medical care provider.
Every surgeon goes through years of medical school followed by a Fellowship, residency training but the best type of surgeon is open to sharing their experiences with prospective patients. This can mean being open to second opinions, offering discussions with former patients or a walk-through of the different surgery techniques available. Feel free to ask about success rates, infection rates and what their expectations are from the procedure and the patient. Surgeons should be open to discussions. It is important to feel comfortable with your surgeon.
Undergoing any type of surgery is a major decision and not one that patients will enter into lightly. Depending on the needs of the patient it is important to consider whether or not additional training in further specialities are necessary. For patients in Vancouver, spine surgery is more accessible than ever with help from agencies like Venture Surgical.
