Specific questions to ask your spine surgeon

There are several questions you can ask a spine surgeon to help you more thoroughly understand your prospective surgery and instill confidence in your selection of a surgeon. You can compare your surgeon’s specific answers with the general overview of the surgical procedure provided in the Overview of surgery.

Questions before choosing surgery:

• What is the specific anatomic lesion being addressed?

• What is the natural course of the condition if left untreated?

• Why does the surgeon recommend this specific procedure?

• What are the alternatives to surgery?

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• What is the risk/benefit ratio (the chance of a bad outcome as weighed against the chance of a good outcome)?

• Can I talk to other patients who have had a similar procedure?

• What are the long-term consequences of the proposed procedure (if a fusion is being contemplated, will it lead to additional problems at the level above)?

Questions about the spine surgeon:

• How many of the recommended procedures does the surgeon do a year?

• Is the surgeon fellowship trained? (Note that this is especially important for a fusion)

• Who will be assisting the surgeon?

Questions after electing surgery:

• What will the procedure entail?

• What are the risks and possible complications and how are they treated?

• How will I feel after the surgery?

• How many days will I spend in the hospital?

• What is the expected postoperative course (such as physical therapy, time to return to work, return to full activity)?

At the first consultation, your spine surgeon should recommend a second visit, giving you time to think about your options and write down additional questions.

In general, your spinesurgeon should be educational, describe the risks/benefits and possible implications of the surgery he/she is recommending, and state the reason for the specific type of surgery. If the spine surgeon is not open to your questions, you should consider choosing another surgeon.