If you have an issue with your back, you may want to consider a spine surgeon. This type of physician has specialized training and is typically a fellowship-trained specialist. These doctors are dedicated to providing the best possible care to patients. In addition to being highly trained, they also have extensive experience and skills in spine surgery.
Fellowship-trained surgeons have specialized skills
Spinal fellowships offer the opportunity to learn the skills needed to treat specific spinal disorders, such as degenerative diseases. Fellows are also exposed to surgical techniques and decision-making skills that help them perform high-quality procedures. However, not all spinal fellowship programmes focus on the same disease processes, and this can lead to variation in expertise and treatment methods among specialists.
A recent study showed that spine surgeons who complete a fellowship are more proficient at treating spinal deformity than nonfellowships. However, there were significant differences in surgical and emergency management of spinal deformities between the two groups. Fellows’ skills in spinal deformity management increased by 32 %, while those in the nonfellowship group showed less improvement in these areas.
The study’s limitations include a lack of information about the age and surgical experience of the surgeons. Furthermore, participants were not asked about the country in which they had completed their spinal surgery fellowship. As such, the study was not able to compare spinal surgery fellowships across countries or change in curriculum over time.
Procedures performed by a spine surgeon
During a spine surgery, the surgeon will perform a procedure called a foraminotomy, which involves opening up the foramen between the vertebrae to provide more space for the nerve roots. The procedure is performed in cases where a herniated disc or slipped disc is causing pressure on the nerve roots, causing pain.
The most common surgery performed by a spine surgeon is spinal fusion, which fuses vertebrae together to reduce pain. It also limits the amount of motion between vertebrae. However, ispine.com.au spinal fusion is not a permanent solution and requires further surgery if it fails to provide relief.
A spine surgeon may use metal hardware to hold the vertebrae in place during the surgery. The hardware is usually not required after the surgery, but it may break before the bone has fully healed. In this case, a second surgery may be needed to remove the hardware.
Complications of spine surgery
Spine surgery is usually safe and effective, but there are a number of complications that can arise during and after the procedure. These complications can vary based on the type of procedure and the patient’s age and health history. Patients should carefully follow postoperative instructions and keep the incision clean. They should also keep a close eye for any signs of infection, such as fever and increased redness and swelling. Some of these complications may lead to permanent neurological damage or even death.
While the risks of complications during spine surgery are low, they are still a cause for concern, especially for physicians and patients. As such, the authors sought to identify the incidence and risk factors for spine surgery complications. These authors conducted a retrospective review of all patients undergoing spinal operations between 1 February 2013 and 1 February 2014, collecting data about patient-specific and surgical risk factors.