Spine surgeons are medical doctors, meaning they have an M.D. or a D.O. Both degree titles require the same certifications and post-medical school training to specialize in spine surgery.
The Spine services manage adult spine problems including infection, degenerative disease, trauma, injuries, and tumors. Our spine faculty and staff have a particular focus on low back pain and neck problems, non-operative or operative management and the psychological aspect.
Our chief surgeon is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He also has fellowship training in combined neurosurgery/orthopaedic spine surgery. New York and New Jersey have his offices. He specializes in spinal Fusion, Lumbar Surgery, and treating Trauma.
Our Spine Surgery NYC specialists diagnose, manage, and treat all types of spinal injuries and conditions. Contact a spine specialist to discuss your concerns.
Spine surgeons can be classified as medical doctors. They have either a M.D. or a D.O. Both degrees require the same certifications, and both must complete post-medical school training in order to specialize in spine surgery.
The surgeon's role as an educator and advisor is to inform you about all options and describe the risks and benefits of each. A surgeon should be available to answer your questions and provide you with the information that you need to make an informed decision on whether or not you want to undergo surgery.
Before you agree to back surgery, consider getting a second opinion from a qualified spine specialist. Spine surgeons may hold different opinions about when to operate, what type of surgery to perform and whether � for some spine conditions � surgery is warranted at all. Back and leg pain can be a complex issue that may require a team of health professionals to diagnose and treat.
Back surgery will almost always be performed under general anesthesia. In addition to the usual risks associated with anesthesia, there are risks associated with the patient lying face down on the surgical table.
Our chief surgeon is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He also has fellowship training in combined neurosurgery/orthopaedic spine surgery. New York and New Jersey have his offices. He specializes in spinal Fusion, Lumbar Surgery, and treating Trauma.
Minimally invasive techniques can be used for common procedures like lumbar decompression and spinal fusion.
The surgeon's role as an educator and advisor is to inform you about all options and describe the risks and benefits of each. A surgeon should be available to answer your questions and provide you with the information that you need to make an informed decision on whether or not you want to undergo surgery.
Integrated care: Experts from neurosurgery and orthopaedics work together under one roof. Using this coordinated approach, our specialists address issues that affect the spine, nerves and brain. We discuss our patients� treatment plans and work as a team to streamline excellent care. Patients can also get X-rays and physical therapy in the same building.
General anesthesia is used almost exclusively for back surgery. Aside from the usual risks associated anesthesia, the patient must be able to lie face down on a surgical table.
Both patient and doctor will benefit from having a list prepared of questions before the appointment with a spine surgeon. Video: Questions to ask your spine surgeon
Minimally invasive surgery for the spine achieves the exact same goal as open surgical, but with smaller incisions.
Even after a successful surgery the recovery period can be prolonged. It all depends on what type of surgery was performed and how your health is before the surgery. Healing may take up to months. It is possible to lose your flexibility.
In addition to the usual surgical residency requirements, both neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery specialties offer fellowship programs in spine that include an additional year of training specific to spine surgery. At the very least, your surgeon should be board certified or board eligible in orthopedic or neurological surgery.
Get a second opinion by a qualified spine specialist before agreeing to back surgery. There may be a difference in opinion between spine surgeons about the best time to operate, how to perform surgery and whether or not surgery is needed for some conditions. It is possible to have leg and back pain that is complex and requires a team of professionals to treat.
Even with a successful surgery, the recovery time can be long. Depending on the type of surgery and your condition before the surgery, healing may take months. And you may lose some flexibility permanently.
Patients should remember that spine surgery can almost always be an elective procedure. Only very rare cases are spine surgery absolutely necessary. You are the only one who can determine how bad your pain is. Therefore, you have the final say on whether to undergo surgery.
Conditions may also be degenerative, meaning that they cause the structures they affect to gradually deteriorate or break down over time. Disc disease, arthritis, spinal stenosis, and herniated or ruptured discs are all examples of conditions that may be caused by degenerative spine disease. The gradual degeneration of joints and other structures can occur due to gradual wear-and-tear or aging, but it can also occur due to genetics, unhealthy lifestyle choices, repetitive motions or overuse.