Should I Choose an Orthopedic Surgeon or Neurosurgeon for Spine Surgery

Key Takeaways:

• Orthopedic surgeons focus on the spine’s bones, joints, and structural alignment, making them ideal for treating issues like fractures, scoliosis, and spinal instability.
• Neurosurgeons specialize in nerve-related spinal conditions, such as spinal cord injuries, nerve compression, and intradural disorders.
• Some conditions (e.g., herniated discs, spinal stenosis) can be treated by either specialist; in these cases, factors like the surgeon’s fellowship training, board certification, and experience matter most.
• Your specific condition—structural vs. nerve-related—should guide your choice between an orthopedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon.

If you’re considering spine surgery to alleviate chronic back pain, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make involves choosing the right specialist to perform your surgery. Both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons regularly perform spine surgery, but their medical background and surgical approaches are often different. Determining the right specialist for you will depend on a variety of factors including your specific condition and the surgeon’s areas of expertise.

The following overview will help you understand the differences between orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons so that you can choose the right doctor to perform your spine surgery.

What Is an Orthopedic Surgeon?

Orthopedic surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Most orthopedic surgeons will focus on a specific area of specialization, such as joint replacement, orthopedic trauma, spine surgery, hand surgery or foot and ankle surgery.

The training for orthopedic surgeons who specialize in spinal conditions focuses on the bones, soft tissues, ligaments and joints of the spine. This training often involves a spine fellowship program in addition to their residency in orthopedic surgery.

Orthopedic spine surgeons can treat a variety of structural and mechanical conditions of the spine, including:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal fractures
• Herniated discs
• Spinal deformities
• Severe arthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Spinal joint pain

What Is a Neurosurgeon?

Neurosurgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders associated with the nervous system. This can include conditions that impact the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Some neurosurgeons choose to specialize in treating brain disorders, while others focus on conditions associated with the spine and spinal cord.

Training for neurosurgeons includes a surgical residency focused on the different components of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. This training emphasizes surgical procedures that address neurological conditions rather than conditions associated with the bones, soft tissues and ligaments.

Neurosurgeons primarily treat conditions impacting the nervous structures in the spine. These treatments are intended to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerves which have caused pain, weakness or numbness in the back. Some of the conditions commonly treated by neurosurgeons include:

• Spinal cord injuries involving the nervous system
• Herniated discs
• Spinal tumors
• Spinal stenosis
• Nerve compression
• Congenital spinal disorders

Differences in Approach and Surgical Techniques

While orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons are both highly qualified to perform spine surgery, they use different approaches and techniques that are ideally suited to address the nuances of different types of conditions. Orthopedic surgeons typically perform procedures that restore spine function, correct spinal alignment and stabilize fractured vertebrae. They often rely on x-ray imaging to diagnose structural alignment issues and spinal deformities, and they use surgical techniques aimed at stabilizing the spinal region.

Neurosurgeons perform procedures that relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, and they often treat complex spinal conditions impacting the spinal cord or its protective nerve lining. They often utilize MRI imaging to diagnose neural conditions that won’t show up on x-rays, and they use surgical techniques that are specially geared towards protecting and decompressing nerves in and around the spinal cord.

There is some overlap in what is treated by orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons. Both specialists are highly qualified to perform procedures to address:

• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc diseases

How to Choose the Right Type of Spine Surgeon

In many instances, the nature of your spine problem will determine the type of specialist to perform your spine surgery:

• Structural issues such as spine fractures, spine instability or scoliosis are typically best handled by orthopedic surgeons since they have more experience correcting deformities and conditions that involve spinal reconstruction.
• Nerve-related or intradural conditions (issues occurring inside the spinal cord’s protective nerve lining) are typically best handled by neurosurgeons since they’ve undergone complex training associated with nerve decompression treatments and surgeries occurring within the spinal cord.

In cases where your condition can be treated by both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, you should evaluate the following factors to determine the best surgeon to perform your procedure:

• Specialized Training – Regardless of whether you work with an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon, it’s important to choose a doctor who has completed extensive training an advanced spinal procedures. Look for surgeons, regardless of base specialty, who have completed a spine surgery fellowship.
• Experience Treating Your Condition – Surgeons who perform the type of spine surgery you need on a regular basis will have more experience with the techniques used and greater understanding of the medical issues involved in the procedure. This can increase your likelihood of achieving the best possible outcome with your surgery.
• Board Certification – Choosing a surgeon who is board certified in their field will ensure they’ve undergone the extensive training necessary to provide the exceptional care you deserve.
• Complexity of the Case – Many common conditions such as spinal stenosis or herniated discs can be handled by either type of surgeon. However, more complex conditions may require the specialized expertise of a surgeon who has made your condition a primary focus of their practice.

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Can Help You Restore a Pain Free Life

If you need spine surgery to correct an orthopedic-related condition, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics can help you restore a pain free life. Our team includes some of the finest board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons along the Western Slope, giving you access to the high levels of patient care that are typically only available in major metropolitan areas. Our spine surgeons perform minimally invasive spine treatments as well as surgical treatments, giving us the ability to tailor your care plan to your specific needs.

All spine surgery procedures at CAO are handled by Dr. J. Alex Sielatycki, a board-certified surgeon who has completed a comprehensive spine surgery fellowship. He specializes in spine surgery, spinal motion preservation, cervical disc replacement and lumbar disc replacement, and he has extensive experience performing a wide range of spine surgery procedures.

In addition, Dr. Sielatycki utilizes the latest and most advanced technology available, including the TOPS™ System for spine surgery, to ensure he achieves the greatest levels of precision with your procedure. Dr. Sielatyicki’s extensive spine surgery training and experience, along with our commitment to using the best technology, allows our team to deliver exceptional patient outcomes that will help you resume your favorite activities as soon as possible.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.