Orthopedic / Neurosurgeon
Many patients ask the question: If I need to be
evaluated for a spinal problem, or, if I need spinal surgery, should I see a
neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon?
It is important for patients to realize that both neurosurgeons and orthopedic
surgeons perform spine surgery. With the advent of new techniques for treating
spine disease, the discipline of spine surgery has grown rapidly. No longer can
the general orthopedic or general neurosurgeon handle the complete array of
spine-related problems. Spine surgery techniques have become so rapidly evolving
and complex that a new discipline "SPINE SURGERY" has been born in the
medical community.
All orthopedic and Neuro-surgeons are also exposed to spine surgery during
their four or five year training program. As in neurosurgery, some orthopedic
surgeons who wish to specialize in spine surgery and gain further training may
pursue a post-graduate (after residency) fellowship in spine surgery. Today
there are a large number of both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons who
specialize and are trained in spine surgery and are referred as
"SPINE SURGEONS".
Currently, a patient does not have to settle on a neurosurgeon who does "mostly
brain surgery and a little bit of spine surgery" or an orthopedic surgeon who
does mostly "joint surgery and a little bit of spine surgery." A patient today
can seek consultation with either a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon
appropriately trained in residency and, possibly, in a post-graduate fellowship
in spine surgery who has devoted his or her practice to spinal disorders. In
other words, they take care of spine problems day to day, week to week, month to
month, and year to year.
