Re: New Member -Jane

[Guest guest]

Jane,

The only comment I have on your current situation is to remember that

the osteotomy is the " money shot " . It is tricky to do and tricky to

get the angles right. Be sure to ask anyone who you are considering

exactly how many they have done. You balancing point after this will

be forever and failure to get it right is a huge problem.

We have all heard stories of very qualified SRS types who " poo-poo "

and say they can do this surgery.....and one member paid a very dear

price for the lack of a surgeons experience in this particular

surgery.

It is your right to know and fully understand the qualifications of

your surgeon, and I would not let anyone near me with a knife who did

not disclose the information and freely offer at least two patients

for you to talk to who have had a sucessful experience with the

doctor.

Generally, I think our group would say if you have a choice, you want

a surgeon who is doing this surgery no less than once a month. There

are enough of them out there that you should be able to find

one...although a little travel will most likely be involved. This

fusion is forever...it is not a dress rehersal...every time some

surgeon " muffs " you run the risk of more scar tissue and more

problems....find someone who has the right skill set...and even then

you should ask them to quantify their experience. The SRS membership,

per se, does not " qualify " any surgeon for this surgery, it is

a " society " ...it just means they have a specific interest and are

active in the specialty. Be sure to dig deep.

That's my $.02! Cam

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Cam - You are obviously very knowledgable and I shall be as thorough as I know how - too bad I didn't know about you and this group before surgery #2!! Thanks again.

Jane

>> Jane,> > The only comment I have on your current situation is to remember that > the osteotomy is the "money shot". It is tricky to do and tricky to > get the angles right. Be sure to ask anyone who you are considering > exactly how many they have done. You balancing point after this will > be forever and failure to get it right is a huge problem. > > We have all heard stories of very qualified SRS types who "poo-poo" > and say they can do this surgery.....and one member paid a very dear > price for the lack of a surgeons experience in this particular > surgery. > > It is your right to know and fully understand the qualifications of > your surgeon, and I would not let anyone near me with a knife who did > not disclose the information and freely offer at least two patients > for you to talk to who have had a sucessful experience with the > doctor.> > Generally, I think our group would say if you have a choice, you want > a surgeon who is doing this surgery no less than once a month. There > are enough of them out there that you should be able to find > one...although a little travel will most likely be involved. This > fusion is forever...it is not a dress rehersal...every time some > surgeon "muffs" you run the risk of more scar tissue and more > problems....find someone who has the right skill set...and even then > you should ask them to quantify their experience. The SRS membership, > per se, does not "qualify" any surgeon for this surgery, it is > a "society"...it just means they have a specific interest and are > active in the specialty. Be sure to dig deep.> > That's my $.02! Cam>

[Guest guest]

Jane,

The surgery is very, very tricky and requires a lot of experience. And there are not many docs who do it well. I say "ditto" to everyrhing Cam said below.

Bonnie

[ ] Re: New Member -Jane

Jane,The only comment I have on your current situation is to remember that the osteotomy is the "money shot". It is tricky to do and tricky to get the angles right. Be sure to ask anyone who you are considering exactly how many they have done. You balancing point after this will be forever and failure to get it right is a huge problem. We have all heard stories of very qualified SRS types who "poo-poo" and say they can do this surgery.....and one member paid a very dear price for the lack of a surgeons experience in this particular surgery. It is your right to know and fully understand the qualifications of your surgeon, and I would not let anyone near me with a knife who did not disclose the information and freely offer at least two patients for you to talk to who have had a sucessful experience with the doctor.Generally, I think our group would say if you have a choice, you want a surgeon who is doing this surgery no less than once a month. There are enough of them out there that you should be able to find one...although a little travel will most likely be involved. This fusion is forever...it is not a dress rehersal...every time some surgeon "muffs" you run the risk of more scar tissue and more problems....find someone who has the right skill set...and even then you should ask them to quantify their experience. The SRS membership, per se, does not "qualify" any surgeon for this surgery, it is a "society"...it just means they have a specific interest and are active in the specialty. Be sure to dig deep.That's my $.02! Cam