What’s the Difference Between an Orthopaedic Surgeon and a Neurosurgeon?
Stephen R. Goll, M.D., Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon
What Are the Variations in Operations Performed Between Orthopaedic Surgeons and Neurosurgeons?
The most comprehensive study ever performed assessing whether surgeon specialty, i.e., orthopaedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons, contributes to a significant difference in spine fusion surgery outcomes has found “there is no difference between orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgery spine surgeons for measured clinical outcomes.”
“This is a very well done study, and provides important information for our patients, who often ask whether or not there is a difference having their surgery done by a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon or a neurosurgeon,” says Stephen R. Goll, M.D., a board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon with Orlando Orthopaedic Center fellowship-trained in orthopedic spine surgery.
“Based on the results of this study, our patients can be reassured that on their surgical outcomes, their results should be equivalent regardless of whether or not they choose an orthopedic spine surgeon or a neurosurgeon as their surgeon.”
What Are the Variations in Operations Performed Between Orthopaedic Surgeons and Neurosurgeons?
The study, published in the July 2015 edition of the journal Spine, involved a review of 9,719 patients receiving spinal fusion between 2005 and 2011. Investigators at the University of California San Diego and San Antonio Military Medical Center found that neurosurgeons performed more operations on the cervical spine (32% vs. 20.4%) while orthopaedic surgeons operated more frequently on the lumbar spine (76% vs. 65%). The researchers did observe a significant difference in blood transfusion rates by specialty, but the reason for the difference is unclear.
They recommend that orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons collaborate “to explore best practices in an effort to improve quality and patient care within the spine community.”
The Spine Center at Orlando Orthopaedic Center offers the most recent spine surgery technology available, including minimally invasive surgical techniques – surgery is but one of many options.
The fellowship-trained spine surgeons at Orlando Orthopaedic Center, who in addition to Dr. Goll include G. Grady McBride, M.D., Steven E. Weber, D.O., and Ravi R. Patel, M.D., are able to monitor your condition throughout the postoperative rehabilitation process, allowing for the most accessible, complete and comprehensive spine surgery care in Central Florida.
