Neurosurgeon, Spinal Surgeon
M.B.B.S, M.C.P.S, F.C.P.S, F.I.C.S (USA), M.A.A.N.S (USA)
Neurosurgeon, Spinal Surgeon
M.B.B.S, M.C.P.S, F.C.P.S, F.I.C.S (USA), M.A.A.N.S (USA)
Doctors who specialize in treating the conditions that effect the spine are spine surgeons. A doctor may refer you to a spine surgeon when all other methods and treatments to ease your back pain seize to provide that relief. Your spine can be affected by any amount of reasons that include aging, improper body mechanism, trauma or structural abnormalities, etc. The aim is to change the patient’s anatomy in order to relieve them from pain and lower abdominal weakness.
If your general physician diagnosis you with a back pain that would not go away with non-surgical procedures and medication, then you should see a spine surgeon if the following symptoms persist:
“Assessment of Modes of Injury and Outcome in Patients with Traumatic Posterior Fossa Extradural Hematomas: A Study of a Tertiary Care Hospital” reflects the prevalent symptoms of patients admitted in Pakistan for spine surgery:
Symptoms |
Percentage % |
Headache |
56.75 |
Vomiting |
56.75 |
Nausea |
56.75 |
Drowsiness |
24.32 |
Localized Swelling |
35.1 |
Ventilator Support |
8 |
According to the Fact Sheet of Global Burden of Disease on Lower Back Pain, the lower back pain is the primary cause of disability in people, globally.
A study on “Experience of Orthopedic and Spine Center Pakistan during COVID-19” shows that between 19th March 2020 and 13th July 2020, two thousand one hundred and sixty (2160) surgeries were performed by the orthopedic team of Ghurki Hospital, Lahore. The breakup of the surgeries is as follows:
Surgery |
Number |
Cases of Trauma |
1514 |
Procedures of Spine |
173 |
Arthroplasty |
51 |
Arthroscopy |
51 |
Tumors |
21 |
Miscellaneous |
350 |
“Epidemiology of Spinal Cord Injury in Pakistan: A Retrospective Study” suggests majority (90%) of the patients admitted for spinal surgery between 2010 and 2016 were paraplegic (affected by paralysis of the legs and lower body).
The common causes of injuries were as follows:
Cause of Injury |
Percentage |
Fall from Height |
30.4% |
Road Traffic Accidents |
25.5% |
Firearm Injury |
21.1% |
You can consider the type of spine surgeon you want to consult depending upon your condition, as recommended by your doctor. Both, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons, can specialize in spine surgery.
In general, neurosurgeons are trained to perform a spine surgery but not all orthopedic surgeons are. Both surgeons treat neck and back pain, pinched nerves, spinal stenosis, and other general spine conditions.
The surgeons can always subspecialize in pediatrics, cervical spine, lumbar spine, hand and wrist surgery, plastic surgery, or in other areas or procedures.
For orthopedic surgeon and neurosurgeons who do not pursue fellowship but continue training for a considerable amount of time have likely earned their additional training and may not be fellowship trained.
After properly diagnosing the condition of your spine, the spine surgeon will recommend the type of surgery you will have to undergo. The purpose of the surgery can be any or all of the following:
Surgery can either decompress a nerve root or it can stabilize a painful motion segment. So, a spine surgeon basically identifies a nerve that has pinched or that painful motion segment. The surgery can, however, correct an anatomical defect.
Finding a good doctor is vital for proper diagnosis & treatment of your underlying concern. Before you make the decision of picking out a Spinal Surgeon, consider the following: