Comments on: Is There An Ethical Crisis in Spinal Surgery?

By: dr vikas tandon

dr vikas tandon — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:00:46 +0000

it seems that the above mentioned comments are all against the doctors for using the implants.
No this is not true, there are clear indications and has been proved repeatedly that spine surgeries where implant is necessary yeild better results as compared to there non implanted counterparts. yes you need to take the decision as to where it is required and where not, probably here the issue of ethics come into play.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:14:52 +0000

What about the patient whose “device” or “screw” fails?

What “incentive” does that doctor have to truly assess the situation and report a negative outcome? Wouldn’t that doctor try to hide a negative outcome if he/she has any kind of investment in its success?

Doctors already inflate success rates by cherry picking the patients that they feel are more likely to have positive outcomes. They reject those that have long-standing, complex, and/or chronic spinal conditions, even when surgical intervention is clearly indicated.

Medicine is BIG business. When it all comes crashing down due to greed, ego, and a lack of cash paying patients, and the government takes over the industry, they’d better have a back up plan….

By: Scott Lederhaus, M.D.

Scott Lederhaus, M.D. — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:29:16 +0000

It is my opinion that a surgeon receiving money (kickbacks) for using a particular spinal implant should be considered criminal. The conflicts of interest for such behavior are obvious and should be stopped. Surgeons should not receive either kickbacks or consulting fees for use of spinal implant products. It is truly appalling what is going on with spinal surgeons. A patient would not know if a surgeon is paid anything for implants. Be careful when selecting a surgeon.

By: crotti francesco

crotti francesco — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:52:46 +0000

I’m agree with the opinions that are here expressed. As peripheral nerve and spine surgeon, i believe that in many spinal cases is there an involvement of perpheral nerve entrapment (PNE). For many reasons the degenerative lumbar spine is able to create PNE by exstending the pattern of myofascial trigger points inthe muscular frame outside of columna 1), by chronic poor posture that changes the environment of the nerve in the canals 2), by eventually, the Sympathertic nervous system involvement 3). Meanwhile the lumbar pain and leg pain can be meimickated and activated by PNE. For the failed back surgery syndrome, in the most of cases (frozen back surgery syndromes and neuropathic pain syndrome), is hidded a peripheral nerve compression syndrome.

By: Dr. Hans-Rudolf Weiss

Dr. Hans-Rudolf Weiss — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:36:30 +0000

The best indication for having a spine surgery seems to have a spine…
Today there is less evidence for scoliosis surgery than for conservative management, however in the professional spine literature (surgeon driven via selected editorial boards) this information is suppressed. SRS surgeons have published an article on “Professional opinion on bracing in scoliosis management” demonstrating their bias against conservative management: About 50% of those “professionals” did not believe in bracing although there is more evidence for bracing than for having spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis in peer reviewed literature.
As to my opinion this fact needs to be enlightened further more…

[1] Weiss HR.Is there a body of evidence for the treatment of patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)?
Scoliosis. 2007 Dec 31;2:19.
[2] Weiss HR.Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis – case report of a patient with clinical deterioration after surgery.
Patient Saf Surg. 2007 Dec 19;1:7
[3] Weiss HR, Goodall D.The treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) according to present evidence. A systematic review.
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2008 Jun;44(2):177-93
[4] Weiss HR.Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) – an indication for surgery? A systematic review of the literature.
Disabil Rehabil. 2008;30(10):799-807.
[5] Weiss HR, Goodall D.Rate of complications in scoliosis surgery – a systematic review of the Pub Med literature.
Scoliosis. 2008 Aug 5;3(1):9.

By: John Gittelsohn

John Gittelsohn — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:00:30 +0000

Here’s an update on the issue of spine doctors investing in a spinal product company: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/allez-companies-company-2038487-products-spinal

By: Calli Spheeris

Calli Spheeris — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:47:54 +0000

Thank you for this site – I will buy the book.
After 2 neurosurgeons telling me I need 4 (FOUR!)
level spinal fusion, I did some research to find
how risky this truly is and how the outcomes are
poor. I am working with a physical therapist, chiropractor, and acupuncturist. Although this
takes time, I am committed to the non-surgical
route.

By: Susanne Christie

Susanne Christie — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:49:44 +0000

I walked around with a dislocated and locked sacrum for 4 years due to my first pregnancy. I told many OBGYNm, doctors and eventually spine specialist about my symptoms and they were ignored, and or deemed impossible. Today everyone looks at the MRI instead of taking a complete spinal x-ray which would have shown that my spine was out of normal alignment. I was told to get the Charite disk repalcement surgery for three severely degenerated disks which was evident on the MRI. My gut told me that surgery would do no good and I refused this surgery. Eventually, I found the right gym equipment; the hip abductor and adductor which helped me realign my sacrum releiving me of exruciating pain. I’m glad that I held stedfast, yet, I do have severe degeneration as a result of this dislocated joint that is located in the pelvis and houses the spione. That what happened to me did not need to be prolonged had I had a supportive spouse and physicians who were willing to listen and to hear the symptoms described. I was often told they were not possible. Yet, I did eventually find online the symptomsthat I had been describing for four years and is called SI joint Syndrome.

Even communicating to doctors can be problematic if they choose not to beleive and or hear the validity of their patients.

I hope this information might help some other person who might find this useful before going under the knife.

Best to all,
Susanne
Hopefully no other human being needs to go through such pain for naught. Be your own best advocate since only you know how you feel.

By: Bill Henry

Bill Henry — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:41:28 +0000

The author of this article advises the patient to “obtain a disclosure from the surgeon revealing financial interests.” Are surgeons leagaly obligated to disclose this information? If so is there a database that one can search through for this information?

By: University Update

University Update — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:12:38 +0000

Is There An Ethical Crisis in Spinal Surgery?