MY ADVICE TO PATIENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERING SPINE SURGERY

If you are going to have any major spine surgery, there are several factors that you must consider before you visit any doctor's office. The first thing you must do is to do a background  check and review the credentials of the treating surgeon. You can go look up the surgeon's licensing at the Medical State Licensing Board. You should have a list of questions and be prepared to have the surgeon answer any and all questions regarding the exact details of the procedure. There are numerous spinal implants which have been recalled which come with a warning label listed on the Food And Drug Administrations website at  www.fda.gov

Metal hardware is classified as Type 1 or Type 2 pedicle screw implants. Make sure that the surgeon explains to you all the risks and benefits of the surgical procedure proposed including the alternatives to any surgical procedure. It is imperative to read all preoperative materials, and to request any articles or journal abstracts were recently published by the surgeon.  There are published websites such as vitals.com or heathgrades.com which gives their specialization and the ratings of doctors, if they are board certified and the public opinion on the physician. Beware of surgeons who use high pressure sales tactics, does not accurately diagnose and comes up with a quick treatment plan or just uses a study models in their offices to induce patients into their marketing office schemes.  

You are allowed to request from the surgeon's office in writing: the name of the spinal manufacturer, the lot number, the identification, and the serial number of the implant. If your surgeon acts evasive and he or she does not fully give you his professional time and cooperation, I would leave and go find someone else.  Never rush into any elective spine surgery. You should try to get at least a second or third opinion when there is major differences of opinion. On the day of surgery, make sure the surgical staff has fully checked and marked the location specifically where your operation is to be performed. There have been cases where there has been foreign objects left into the patients, whereby spine operations have gone bad because they were performed on the wrong side level or postoperative complications have occurred such as infection, the breakage or dislodgement of pedicle screws.