When it comes to spinal surgery, the distinction between a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic doctor is sometimes misunderstood in the medical community. This misunderstanding is well-founded, and it is so widespread that many referring physicians are baffled by the differences between the two professions. Both conduct spine surgeries, claim to provide cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatments, and claim to be experts in the field. The reality is that the two disciplines are very different and can result in very different surgical results for patients.
In this post, we will look at the similarities and, more importantly, the distinctions between orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, in order to better understand the differences between these two medical specialties.
Difference between the Two
The most significant and clear distinction between the two doctors is that orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons undergo separate training in different medical fields. Particularly though these areas intersect, such as when orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons also treat the spine, the main distinction between orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons would still be a difference in preparation and specialized competence.
What Is the Role of a Neurosurgeon?
A neurosurgeon is a doctor who specializes in the brain and how it communicates with the rest of the body. As a result, a neurosurgeon is well-equipped to deal with a variety of brain and spine conditions, including:
Cancers of the brain
Tumors in the intradural space
Birth defects such as spina bifida or tethered spinal cord syndrome
Cerebrovascular accidents such as strokes, aneurysms, and other clots
Epilepsy is a condition that affects people.
Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and basic tremor are examples of movement disorders.
Neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Central or peripheral nervous system conditions that cause chronic pain
What Is the Role of an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon?
Orthopedists who specialize solely in spine surgery focus their practice on treating the following conditions:
Spinal deformities, such as kyphosis, scoliosis, flatback syndrome or lordosis in adults and children.
Degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and other age-related spine disorders, such as bulging or herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and so on.
Osteoarthritis, joint disorder, and ankylosing spondylitis are all arthritic spine disorders.
Sciatica and cervical radiculopathy are examples of radiculopathy or pinched nerve disorders.
Traumatic or sports-related spine injuries, such as spinal cord injuries or sprains/strains
Vertebral column tumors and diseases (e.g., osteomyelitis)
The Best Spine Surgeon for You: Industry Secrets There's no way around it.
At the end of the day, any of these minor distinctions may be of little importance to you. Regardless of their official title, you want the finest surgeon you can find. But how do you sift through the tens of thousands of spine surgeons who are all vying for your business?
It is really a lot less difficult than you would expect. You should select a spine surgeon who is board-certified and has a clear malpractice record at the very least.
Do not make the simple mistake of saying that your doctor is board-certified just because they’ve graduated from medical school. A licensed physician must also meet additional standards, including standardized tests, to obtain board certification. A passing test result indicates that your doctor has met a minimum standard of competence. In other words, you can be assured that your doctor didn’t actually squeak through medical school.
Likewise, you can visit our website of Neuroscience Specialist to ensure that the surgeon is free of malpractice lawsuits and disciplinary charges for the state in which he or she works.
**Disclaimer- Information presented here is not intended to be qualified medical advice. Nothing expressed herein creates a doctor-patient relationship.