Neurosurgeons and Orthopedic Surgeons can Specialize in Spine Surgery
Many years ago, neurosurgeons were primarily responsible for spine surgery, but in the past 20 to 25 years spine surgery has evolved so that both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons specialize in spine surgery, and for most of the typical spine operations both types of surgeons are equally well qualified. best spine surgeon in Madurai
See When to See a Surgeon for Low Back Pain
In both specialties, the surgeons may subspecialize, such as in the case of surgeons who specialize in pediatrics, cervical spine, lumbar spine, hand and wrist surgery, plastic surgery, or in other areas or procedures.
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Neurosurgeons
Neurosurgeons may be Medical Doctors or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, and complete a five to six year residency focused on the surgical treatment of neurological conditions. Neurosurgeons are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders involving: best spine surgeon in Madurai
- Brain
- Spine and spinal cord
- Nerves
- Intracranial and intraspinal vasculature
Some neurosurgeons specialize exclusively on brain surgery, some on spine surgery, and some split their practice between the two.
See Pain Signals to the Brain from the Spine
In This Article:
- Orthopedic Surgeon vs. Neurosurgeon for Spine Surgery
- Insights on Choosing a Spine Surgeon
- Video: Am I a Candidate for Back Surgery? best spine surgeon in Madurai
Orthopedic Surgeons
Orthopedic surgeons may be Medical Doctors (MD) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) who have completed a five-year surgical residency focused on the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Orthopedists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of almost all bone and joint disorders, such as:best spine surgeon in Madurai
- Spinal disorders
- Arthritis
- Sports injuries
- Trauma
- Bone tumors
- Hand injuries and deformities
- Total joint replacement
Some orthopedic surgeons focus their practice exclusively on spine surgery, some on other types of joints (e.g. hips, knees, shoulders), and some split their practice among two or more areas.
Both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons may complete fellowship training to do most types of spine surgery, but there are a few types of spine surgery in which one specialty tends to be more qualified than the other, such as:
- In the past, orthopedic surgeons tended to be better qualified to do spinal deformity surgery, such as scoliosis , other types of spinal deformity. Today many neurosurgeons have been trained in deformity surgery.
- Neurosurgeons tend to be more qualified to perform intradural surgery (surgery inside of the dura in the spinal cord), such as thecal sac tumorsbest spine surgeon in Madurai
What is a spine surgeon called?
Orthopedists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of almost all bone and joint disorders, such as: Spinal disorders.
What is the difference between a spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon?
A neurosurgeon is trained to treat conditions of the brain and spine, while an orthopaedic spine surgeon specializes in treating the spine. … Both perform complicated spine surgeries, and the line between the two specialties has become blurred in recent years. The two similar specialists can both provide excellent care
What does a orthopedic spine surgeon do?
As orthopedic surgeons, orthopedic spine doctors concentrate primarily on repairing problems of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal anatomy. These surgeons spend every day assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with spine-related injuries and conditions, including: Degenerative disc diseases. Herniated …
Can spine surgery be avoided?
If your back pain is the result of an alignment issue, chiropractic or spinal manipulation may be able to help you realign your spine and avoid an unnecessary surgery.
What is the most common spine surgery?
Spinal decompression and fusion: It is the most common spine surgery performed in the U.S., and it’s performed to take pressure off of “pinched” nerves and/or the spinal cord and to stabilize the spine