Spine Problem: Neurosurgeon or Orthopedic Surgeon?

You or a loved one has been diagnosed with spine disorder. Now you have the difficult choice in choosing your surgeon for treatment. You been referred to a spine specialist but you are not certain if you should see a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon. Here is a break down about both specialists to determine your best treatment option.

Training

All orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons gain experience in the diagnosis, non-surgical and surgical treatment of spinal disorders during their residency (training program after medical school). Within the residency program there are specialized surgeons who practice only spinal surgery and provide this important training to residents as part of their core curriculum. Thereafter, neurosurgery or orthopedic surgery residents who wish to specialize in spinal surgery will elect to do a post graduate fellowship (after residency) for advance training in spine surgery.

Therefore, we have a number of orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons who specialize in spine surgery, who are skilled in taking care of disc degeneration, disc herniations, spinal stenosis, spondylolistheses and fractures of the spine.

Differences

There are a few areas where there still is a difference. For instance, only neurosurgeons are trained to perform procedures inside the lining of the spinal canal called the dura. Diagnoses like spinal cord tumors, tethered spinal cord, Chiari malformation and syringomyelia, fall under the neurosurgery domain. On the other hand, pediatric and adult scoliosis, kyphosis and other spinal deformities are predominantly treated by orthopedic surgeons.

Today, neurosurgical and orthopedic spine specialists have developed an academic relationship and have come together in many international organizations to include the North American Spine Society and Cervical Spine Research Society.

You Have Choices

You have the choice to seek consultation with either a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spine surgery. Seek a surgeon who take cares of your spine problems from beginning to end, diagnoses to rehabilitation. The separating walls between the two specialties have been broken down by the shared goal of advancing the field of spine care.

Do not be afraid to ask your spine specialist about his or her training, practice focus, years of experience with the procedure you need. Do not be afraid to speak up. It is your body, your spine.