How To Search For A Certified Spinal Surgeon

If you are considering spinal surgery, you should know that it is an important medical procedure that can carry serious complications when it is performed by an unexpert doctor. For this reason, it is important that you perform good research and find a surgeon that will minimize the potential complications and ensure a high success rate. Here are the best tips to find a professional spinal surgeon.

The Doctor Should Provide you All the Information you Need

Spinal surgery is a complicated procedure so it is normal that you feel nervous about it and have many questions and doubts. You should find a doctor that is able to explain to you everything about your diagnosis and the surgery in simple terms, explain to you the difficulty and potential risks of the surgery, as well as the expected results and the recovery process. Apart from this, he should also provide you with other options if you ask for it. Don’t trust a doctor that isn’t willing to ask your questions and denies your right to know all the information about the procedure.

You should feel comfortable with your doctor and consider that he is choosing the best option for your personal needs.

Qualifications and Experiences

The spinal surgeon should have a specialization in neurosurgery and have experience performing the type of surgery that you will receive. Ask if he has performed that surgery before, ask how many times, what is the complication rate, or the infection rate. Ask for statistics of the success rate of that specific surgery, you can also ask if the surgeon has patients that are willing to share their experience. A spinal surgeon with experience will have a better technique that one who performs the surgery only occasionally.

Board Eligible

Look on the wall and see if there is certification. Search through the internet and find out if the surgeon is a member of a major spine organization, such as the North American Spine Society or American Board of Spine Surgeons. Check the credentials of your doctor on the state’s medical board website or in DocInfo.org which is run by the federation of state medical boards. If the surgeon doesn’t have enough experience or credentials, it is best to check a second option.

It is important to educate yourself and find an experienced surgeon who is working to find the best procedure for your particular case and ensure the best results.