Spinal surgeons specialize in correcting injuries and disorders of the vertebrae, such as herniated discs and scoliosis. They consult with patients to determine appropriate treatment plans and perform surgeries, but must always consider less invasive options. Training is rigorous, including four years of undergraduate and medical school, a five-year orthopedic residency, and two years of work as an orthopedic surgeon.
A spinal surgeon is a type of orthopedic doctor who specializes in correcting injuries and disorders of the vertebrae, such as herniated discs and scoliosis. His work typically involves talking with patients to determine appropriate treatment plans, acting as a consultant to other physicians, and performing surgeries. A spine surgeon’s job requires a lot of skill; thus, to qualify for the position, applicants must first complete an intensive period of schooling and a residency program.
There are several conditions of the spine that can be treated surgically. Some of them, such as scoliosis or curvature of the spine, can arise spontaneously; others, like dislocated vertebrae, can be caused by sports injuries or degenerative conditions like arthritis. As surgery can be expensive and require long and painful recovery times, the spinal surgeon must always be certain that the patient’s disorder cannot be treated by less invasive means. Therefore, much of his work is devoted to consulting with patients, sometimes at the request of a non-orthopedic physician, to determine whether surgery is necessary. He can order and examine radiographs and explain the surgical process to the patient, describing its risks and benefits; if the patient decides to have surgery, they will likely also explain how to prepare and what to expect during rehabilitation.
The types of procedures performed by a spine surgeon vary according to each patient’s condition. Some are highly invasive. A treatment known as cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), for example, involves removing bones or disks from the spinal cord to relieve spinal cord compression. Spinal fusion, which fixes a section of vertebrae to prevent their movement, is also an important procedure. Used to treat conditions like severe scoliosis and spinal instability, this surgery involves attaching metal rods or grafted bone to the affected area of the spine, rendering that section immobile.
Some spinal surgeries are less extreme. For example, kyphoplasty, a procedure that treats fractured or collapsed vertebrae, involves inserting a small balloon into the site of the damaged vertebra. The balloon is inflated, causing the vertebra to return to its normal position.
Due to the highly challenging nature of this work, a prospective spinal surgeon must endure a long and rigorous training period. In the US, he typically must complete four years of undergraduate and four years of medical school and then proceed to a five-year orthopedic residency program. To qualify as a spinal specialist, he must work as an orthopedic surgeon for two years after his residency and pass a final exam. Admissions to medical schools are highly selective; orthopedic residency programs even more so. Thus, orthopedic residents tend to rank very highly in medical school classes.
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