Patrick juneau neurosurgeon vs orthopedic surgeon

Both perform spine surgeries, both claim to provide cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedures and both can specialize in the spine. The truth, however, is that the two fields are very different and can provide patients with very different surgical outcomes.

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The biggest and most fundamental difference between the two physicians is also the most obvious: orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons receive different training in different medical fields. Indeed, even where these fields happen to overlap, as in the case of orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons who both treat the spine, the primary difference between orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons will always come down to a difference in training and specialized competence.

Here's a helpful graphic that points out some of the key differences between neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. How have these two distinct worlds become so intertwined? In order to answer that, we need to first look at the state of back pain in the U. Neck and back pain are among the most common medical issues facing Americans today.

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Roughly 65 million Americans report recent back pain, while nearly 16 million report suffering from chronic back pain. This pain can often and easily interfere with daily life and activities. Even though most of the people who suffer from neck and back pain do not need to seek consultation with a surgeon, some most certainly suffer from conditions for which surgical treatment is necessary.

These are mostly patients whose neck and back pain is recurrent, persistent, resistant to non-surgical treatment, and seriously debilitating. For these patients, spinal surgery is a viable treatment option and this is often where the confusion begins. This terminological coinage, however, serves to obscure the important differences in training, skill, and competence that separate orthopedic surgeons from neurosurgeons.

In addition, the Internet has only caused a further blurring of the lines between the two specialties. The neck and back together constitute a complex musculoskeletal system supported by the spine, which itself is a crucial and delicate component of the central nervous system. In seeking surgical treatment for such a complex and fragile part of the body, it is imperative that patients know the precise qualifications and competence of their surgeon.