Some people with spinal problem are sometimes confused as to whether they should consult with a neurosurgeon or should they seek an orthopedic surgeon. Some primary care physicians recommend a neur...

Some people with spinal problem are sometimes confused as to whether they should consult with a neurosurgeon or should they seek an orthopedic surgeon. Some primary care physicians recommend a neurosurgeon while others recommend an orthopedic surgeon. While both are surgeons, who between the two specialize in spine surgery? Both the orthopedic surgeon and the neurosurgeon specialize in and perform surgical procedures involving spinal problems. In today抯 medical setting, there are many cases of spine surgery that incorporates both specializations. ?/p>

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All neurosurgeons in Louisiana are required to undergo an extensive residency program that lasts 6 to 7 years, after completing medical school. During this long residency training, they gain experience, exposure and knowledge in the diagnosis and the treatment (surgical and non-surgical) of spinal disorders or injuries. By the time they graduate from the residency program, they have assisted in hundreds of spinal procedures which will have served as their hands-on training for their future spine surgeries. Their experience from the residency training will have provided them with the confidence when the handle their own surgical procedures not as assistant but as the lead surgeon. ?/p>

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Some of the best neurosurgeons in Louisiana had chosen to extend their training by undergoing a spine surgery post-graduate fellowship program. That fellowship program additionally hones the skills of the neurosurgeon for one or two years following the completion of the residency training. Usually, when people hear of neurosurgeons, they immediately associate the word with brain surgeons. In reality, however, neurosurgeons not only perform brain surgeries but also surgeries involving the head, neck and spinal cord.?

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On the other hand, all orthopedic surgeons have the same exposure on spine surgery but theirs came from their residency training that lasts about four to five years. While their exposure at spine surgeries is not as extensive as that of the neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons who specialize in spine surgery have had the exposure to a volume of spine surgeries under the orthopedic residency program. Some orthopedic surgeons specialize in trauma or joint surgery or even on sports medicine. And like neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons who wish to hone their skills in spine surgery may elect to undergo a post-graduate fellowship in spine surgery following the end of their residency training program.

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So with regards as to who you should consult for your spinal problem, the key is checking the experience and expertise of either of the two surgeons that specialize in spine disorders. You don抰 have to settle for a neurosurgeon that is more of a brain surgeon and does less spine surgeries. Nor should you be confident with an orthopedic surgeon that does more joint or trauma surgeries than spine surgeries. For spine injuries or disorders, a patient may seek the expertise of a neurosurgeon or he may elect to consult with an orthopedic surgeon for as long as any of them have the appropriate training and experience in surgical procedures involving the spinal cord. It wouldn抰 matter as long as you are consulting with a surgeon who has dedicated his practice to treatment of spinal injuries or diseases.?/p>