Spine surgery is performed when problems occur in the spine. Problems in the spine could also result from other underlying issues. People have a common misconception that spine surgery is very risky and they have a paranoia that it might fail.
These days with advancements in the medical industry, there are many instruments that have advanced over the years. Spine surgery is safe in 95% of the cases. The other cases are those where there is a tumor inside the spinal cord, where the surgery is not that effective. Spine surgery was considered bad 20 years ago due to the high complication rate. Recently, new investigation methods and operating gadgets have improved the result.
How does a spine surgery specialist perform a surgery?
There are many steps a spine surgery specialist goes through before operating. They have to complete a physical exam which is to be done 1 to 4 weeks prior to the surgery. This exam may take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. The patient needs to get their blood drawn, EKG and MRI. The spine surgery specialist in Mount Dora will strongly suggest quitting smoking as smoking will impair and delay the healing time.
5 things that the surgeon recommends before surgery
- Do not drink alcohol after 8 pm.
- Do not eat solid food after midnight.
- Do not drink milk or juice with pulp after midnight.
- Stop drinking clear liquids 4 hours before surgery.
- Bowel preparation, if needed.
How do spine surgery specialists go ahead with the surgery?
There are a few instructions that need to be followed by the patient. If the patient fails to follow them, the surgery might be canceled. A nurse is appointed to review these instructions and inform the patient about the time and location for arrival. After the surgery, the patient s discharged and the length of time in hospital is dependent on the type of surgery performed.
What happens on the day of surgery?
On the day of surgery, the spine surgery specialist arrives at least 2 hours before the surgery. Once the patient is checked in, a nurse will ask questions and get the patient prepped for the surgery. The anesthesia teams place the required fluids. The length of surgery depends on the type of procedure performed. The family is free to wait in the surgical wing while the patient is undergoing the treatment.
What is the field of spine surgery like?
Like all surgical residencies, spine surgeries are incredibly taxing. There will be a significant amount of time on inpatient services compared to outpatient, which translates to earlier and longer hours. After completing residency, a surgeon can specialize in bone surgery to become a spine surgery specialist.
This specialization will last one year. This is a specialty if one does not mind irregular and unpredictable hours while on call. They are often required to see patients on the worst day of their lives but help them recover from debilitating injuries in order to get back to a normal life. Spine surgery is a lucrative field. This is one of the top 5 paying jobs. They can work in two different settings. One is the academic setting and the other is the private practice. Most spine surgery specialists are paid a salary based and also some hospitals cover malpractice insurance.
The surgeries that they do each day will be diverse and unpredictable but often times very rewarding. The spine surgery specialist corrects the spinal deformity, trauma, degenerative disease, and nerve compression. They will be dealing with multiple areas of the axial skeleton, operating primarily on the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, and occasionally the sacrum.