The most important conversation I have with a patient is not the one where I explain the anatomy of their deformity or describe the surgical technique. It is the one where I try to make sure they understand, as clearly and honestly as I can make it, what they are actually agreeing to — andContinue reading “What I Tell Every Patient Before Major Spine Surgery”
Category Archives: Patient Safety & Surgical Planning
What to Ask Your Spine Surgeon Before Agreeing to Surgery
What to Ask Your Spine Surgeon Before Agreeing to Surgery Dr. Zeeshan Sardar, MD, MSc, F.R.C.S.CCo-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery • NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Spine surgery is a major decision, and a good surgeon expects to be asked hard questions. If a recommendation for surgery doesn’t hold up under a few direct questions, thatContinue reading “What to Ask Your Spine Surgeon Before Agreeing to Surgery”
The Truth About Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: What It Can and Cannot Do
The Truth About Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: What It Can and Cannot Do Dr. Zeeshan Sardar, MD, MSc, F.R.C.S.CCo-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery • NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University “Minimally invasive” is one of the most marketed terms in spine surgery, and also one of the most misunderstood. Patients often arrive believing it means a fundamentallyContinue reading “The Truth About Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: What It Can and Cannot Do”
Second Opinions in Spine Surgery: When and Why
Second Opinions in Spine Surgery: When and Why Dr. Zeeshan Sardar, MD, MSc, F.R.C.S.CCo-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery • NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Many patients hesitate to seek a second opinion out of concern it will offend their surgeon or seem like a lack of trust. In practice, the opposite is closer to the truth:Continue reading “Second Opinions in Spine Surgery: When and Why”
Preparing for Major Spine Surgery: What Patients Need to Know
What you do before major spine surgery matters as much as what happens in the operating room. Here is a comprehensive guide to preoperative optimization — bone density, nutrition, smoking, diabetes, blood management, and more.
Individualized Surgical Planning using the #MEANS concepts
Matching thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and pelvic incidence in the sagittal plane is central to optimal alignment in adult spinal deformity surgery. The same principle applies in the coronal plane: the fractional lumbosacral curve, lumbar scoliosis, and thoracic scoliosis must be balanced against each other in the surgical plan. The case below illustrates individualized surgicalContinue reading “Individualized Surgical Planning using the #MEANS concepts”
Bone Health treatment before spine surgery
Alignment may be #1 but Bone Health is a close #2 in preventing mechanical failure in patients undergoing adult spinal deformity surgery This study published by us in JBJS shows the significance of medical treatment of osteoporosis prior to adult spinal deformity surgery. Next step is to identify the osteopenic patients who will benefit fromContinue reading “Bone Health treatment before spine surgery”
Navigating Airport Security with Spinal Implants
Attention to those with spinal fusion implants or considering scoliosis surgery! You may be detected by metal detectors at the airport. Ease your travel by filling out the TSA notification card and present it to the agents. Opting for the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machine is often a smoother choice instead of the walk-through metalContinue reading “Navigating Airport Security with Spinal Implants”