Every spine surgery is different, but that doesn’t mean doctors are trying to accomplish something different with each procedure. Although the way they go about it may be different, there are a number of common goals that are sought during each and every spine surgery. In today’s blog, we shine a spotlight on five goals that every surgeon works to accomplish during every single back operation.
Five Common Goals Of Back Surgery
One way or another, spine surgeons typically set out to achieve these five goals with each operation.
- Correct The Underlying Issue – This may sound obvious, but treating the underlying problem isn’t always obvious or easy. Sometimes symptoms disguise themselves as the root problem, so it’s important to get a thorough diagnosis or even a second opinion before moving forward with a surgery. This way you know that the area being treated is the true cause of your issues. Every spine surgeon works to correct the source of the problem during surgery.
- Stabilize The Site – Another key aspect of spinal surgery is to stabilize the spine and the surrounding structures. If you correct the problem, but the spine isn’t equipped to handle stress, pain is going to return. Whether it’s with spinal cement, precise instrumentation or shifting your spine back into place, your surgeon will stabilize your spine so it can safely handle stress during rehab and beyond.
- Pain Relief – A third goal of spine surgery is to help the patient by providing pain relief. Sometimes this occurs hand-in-hand simply by treating the underlying issue, but not always. Before we’ll even consider scheduling surgery for a patient, we take a close look at their medical history, their charts and all relevant medical data to make a determination of the likelihood that surgery will reduce their pain and improve their quality of life. Surgery is a traumatic experience on your body, so we’re not going to put you through it if you have a low likelihood of finding relief with the procedure. Pain relief is often made possible by treating the underlying problem, but it’s also achieved by the surgical team that determines the most effective way to reduce pain.
- Patient Safety and Risk Mitigation – A key aspect of spine surgery is the safety of the patient. As we touched on in the above points, we’re not going to push forward with an unnecessary or risky surgery just to make a buck. Your health is a top priority, and we know the risks that are involved with certain procedures. This gives us the best chance to plan for these potential risks, reduce their likelihood and treat them if they occur. Our techniques and our industry insights help us reduce surgical risks like bleeding, infection or failed surgery.
- Patient Education – The final goal of every surgery is to ensure we provide every patient with the tools they need to thrive in their rehab and recovery. Among other things, this involves discussing the best ways to care for their wound site, explaining the benefits of physical therapy and other rehab strategies, and helping them understand their limits and the safe progression of activity during their journey back to full health. Our goal with every patient is to give them the tools to thrive during their rehab. Our care isn’t done once the last stitch is put in place, we’re with you every step of the way during recovery.
For a provider that will work towards these goals and more, look no further than Dr. Sinicropi.
