Be it a Discectomy procedure, Artificial Disk Replacement, Nucleoplasty, or Spinal Fusion, spine surgeries are complicated and critical. More than anything else, these procedures warrant a high degree of expertise and experience. Due diligence is required to choose any medical practitioner. But in the case of spine surgery, even the slightest lax can be detrimental. For instance, if you live in Adelaide, finding the right spine specialist in Adelaide goes way beyond a customary Google search. There are numerous factors to be weighed. A highly systematic approach is required to evaluate the well-known spine specialists in your vicinity and choose the best spine surgeon amongst them. For those who are not familiar with this process, these 5 noteworthy tips will come in handy!
- Conduct ample research on the qualification and experience of prospective spine surgeons.
No matter which city or state of Australia you reside in, you will find multiple spine surgeons around you. So the first logical step is to go through each orthopedic or neurosurgery clinic website to assess the expertise of their respective spine surgeons. Jot down their qualifications, affiliations, and their overall experience in the field. Most importantly, check whether they have conducted the specific surgical procedure that you need to undergo. After all, spine surgery is a vast, multifarious zone. So, a precision-based experience is more important than generic know-how.
- Get Online Consultation with a Spine Specialist Adelaide
Based on the above research criteria, you are most likely to shortlist several spine specialists in Adelaide. Since all your queries cannot be resolved online, it is best to have online consultation sessions arranged with each prospective spine surgeon that you have shortlisted. Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a safe and effective way. Don’t shy away from asking the right questions in depth. Based on how approachable, reassuring, and transparent the clinic staff and doctors are during the consultation, you can choose wisely.
- Go through Online Reviews and Testimonials in depth.
It might seem like a time-consuming process but scanning through all possible online reviews, ratings, and testimonials is important. Knowing about the past experiences and feedback of patients is important. Furthermore, try to analyze the reviews from the point of view of your specific ailment. Has the experience of patients who have undergone the same surgical procedure been positive? Make sure you expand your online searches beyond Google. Apart from Google reviews, pore through reviews on various social media handles and online Medicine/Surgery Portals. Last but not the least, you must seek word-of-mouth reviews from friends, colleagues, neighbors, and so on.
- Seek the Right Assessment and Diagnosis
While interacting with any spine specialist in Adelaide, you must enquire if non-surgical treatments are applicable in your case. Based on whether your spine ailment is orthopedic or neurological, speak to the right spine specialist. The right spine specialist will always recommend surgery as the last option as it is the most invasive. It is best to avoid doctors who don’t explain the various treatment options patiently and directly advise surgery.
- Check out the Clinic/Hospital Infrastructure and Nursing Facilities
Of course, a major part of choosing the right spine surgeon involves reviewing their qualifications, experience, and expertise. But you also need to assess the various facilities available at the healthcare center. Interact with the nurses and administrative personnel at the center and review the services available. After all, spine surgeries are usually major procedures that would entail both pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization. Hence, the kind of nursing facilities that you get is pivotal in making the right choice. Also, don’t hesitate to ask about the success rate of the surgery. Expecting a positive outcome is important, but being realistic about your odds is equally necessary. Steer clear of doctors/healthcare centers that withhold important information or mislead you about the success rate of the surgery.
Conclusion
Owing to sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and incorrect work/leisure postures nowadays, chronic spinal disorders are on the rise. Of course, other factors like accidents and sports/workout mishaps are equally responsible. These include Herniated Discs, Spondylosis, Stenosis, Spinal Cord Injuries, and so on. When detected and diagnosed early, these can be treated via oral medication and physiotherapy. But at an advanced stage, there is often no option left but to opt for spine surgery, which is no doubt a risky and expensive affair. Finding the right spine surgeon can ease out your worries and maximise your chances of success. With the above tips, you will find it a lot easier to find the best spine surgeon in Australia.
