ortho spine vs neuro spine surgeon for lumbar microdiscectomy

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ALTorGT

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if you had to choose between an spine fellowship trained orthopaedic
surgeon or a neurosurgeon to do a lumbar microdiscectomy,
who would you go with?

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ALTorGT said:
if you had to choose between an spine fellowship trained orthopaedic
surgeon or a neurosurgeon to do a lumbar microdiscectomy,
who would you go with?

Thats like asking to choose between a Honda Accord and a Toyota Camry. Sure they come from different companies, but they are both in the same class, and are both excellent.

For all intents and purposes the training between ortho and neurospine should be equivalent. I'd go with the most experienced one with the least amount of complications.
 
Although, one can make the argument that much of the spine stuff will go towards the neurosurgeons, just becuase people may feel more "comfortable" with the neurosurgeon, even though a fellowship trained orthopedist would be just as good.
 
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Who would make that argument? They are both spine surgeons. When you have a skeletal problem you go to an orthopaedic surgeon.
 
Joe consumer might choose the neurosurgeon based on rep alone. Much of private practice neurosurgery is spine, and their referral base is broad. Your everyday individual surfing the internet knows how glittery neurosurgery is, but doesn't know that the orthopods are equally as qualified for the procedure. GASP! You have to think in the real world, not just in medical land.
 
O'doyleRules said:
Joe consumer might choose the neurosurgeon based on rep alone. Much of private practice neurosurgery is spine, and their referral base is broad. Your everyday individual surfing the internet knows how glittery neurosurgery is, but doesn't know that the orthopods are equally as qualified for the procedure. GASP! You have to think in the real world, not just in medical land.

Dude, half the population doesn't even know what neurosurgery means. They know spine surgery. They know back surgery. And their referral to a surgeon will come from their primary care doctor, so it will come from "medical land". You don't just walk into an office and ask for an appointment.
 
ALTorGT said:
if you had to choose between an spine fellowship trained orthopaedic
surgeon or a neurosurgeon to do a lumbar microdiscectomy,
who would you go with?

Hans is right. NS or Ortho are both qualified. You should choose according to other criteria.

Ask some anesthesiologists about whom they would recommend. The ones I have asked in the past wouldn't beat around the bush and quickly said which surgeons are good and which aren't.
 
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