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TOP NEUROSURGEONS OFFER TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT SPINE SPECIALIST Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists (ANS) educates patients about the importance of choosing the most appropriate specialist for back surgery. By: Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists Every day, over 15 million Americans experience back pain. Of those 15 million, more than 600,000 back surgeries are performed each year. With back pain on the rise, the number of physicians performing back surgeries has also increased, making Failed Back Surgery Syn- drome (FBSS) a lot more common. On average 80,000 Americans suffer from FBSS. So the question arises, how do you choose the right specialist? In order to help patients find the right specialist, the neurosurgeons at Atlantic Neuro- Surgical Specialists (ANS) have launched an awareness campaign to include tips for choos- ing the right specialist for your spine. • Make sure your spine specialist is ade- quately trained: First and foremost, patients must understand that just because someone says that they are a spine specialist does not mean that their claims are valid. Some of the most common failed back surgeries are a result of quick-fix solutions, performed by physicians without the proper training. Understanding a physician’s background, education, and reputation are all important when choosing your specialist. Most people would be surprised to find that there is no requirement of surgical training for someone to call themselves a “spine specialist.” Although a medical license is required, med- ical licensure only sets the minimum compe- tency requirements to diagnose and treat patients; it is not specialty specific. Most patients would also be surprised to know that their doctor performing spine surgery may not even have undergone a surgical training program. Don’t trust the surgical manage- ment of your spine and spinal cord to a doc- tor with no formal surgical training, who may have just attended an industry-sponsored weekend course on some new technique. Neurosurgical residencies last 6-7 years with surgical technique and spine surgery being taught throughout. Orthopedic residencies last 5 years with surgical technique and expo- sure to spine surgery. At the end of that train- ing, orthopedists interested in spine surgery and some select neurosurgeons pursue advanced fellowship training in spine surgery. • Consider a fellowship-trained physician: Fellowship training is an additional 1-2 years of training devoted to a specific area of expertise. This program allows physicians to train with recognized experts in their special- ized field. For neurosurgeons this is an addi- tional year where their expertise can be fine- tuned, often with new advanced technology. It is uncommon to find multiple experts with advanced spine fellowship training in one group. At ANS, 5 neurosurgeons are fellow- ship-trained in spine and hold national recog- nition in their specialty. They combine their expertise to improve outcomes and patient care. As such, ANS was one of the first prac- tices in the Northeast to participate in a national outcomes database looking at out- comes in spinal care. • Your spine specialist should dedicate over half of his/her practice to spine cases: When choosing a spine specialist, you’ll want to consider the newest and most ground- breaking treatment options. If the doctor of your choice is dedicated to handling spine cases, it is more likely that he/she will be trained on the most current treatment options available. Additionally, you’ll want to look for the surgeon’s success rate. The more successful a spine surgeon is, the better a patient’s chance for a successful clinical out- come. ANS provides patients with the most contemporary treatment options, and has the largest experience in the state with advanced minimally invasive spinal surgery with nation- ally ranked clinical outcomes. • Choosing the right type of back specialist: When patients hear the word “neurosur- geon,” many think “treatment of brain disor- ders.” Although this is true, what most don’t realize is that neurosurgeons specialize in treating all aspects of diseases affecting the nervous system and supporting structures including brain, peripheral nerves, and spinal disorders. In fact, neurosurgeons focus on the spine throughout their entire education, with a select few devoting an additional year to fel- lowship training. That means that a neurosur- geon may spend as long as 8 years in intense surgical training mastering the art of diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders. Dr. Jack Knightly of ANS adds, “This includes not only knowing how to safely perform complex spinal procedures (including spinal instrumen- tation and fusion procedures), but equally as important, when these procedures should be performed.” Neurosurgeons are also trained to manage problems involving the spinal cord itself, such as tumors that impinge on the spinal cord or arise from within. For the average patient, both neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons are equally well qualified. When choosing the best spe- cialist for you, it is important to understand your diagnosis and then choose the specialist who has the most experience treating your condition. “You should feel comfortable that all of your questions are answered and have trust in your physician,” adds ANS neurosur- geon Dr. Scott Meyer. Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists is the largest private neurosurgical practice in NJ. Holding national recognition in their specialty, ANS neu- rosurgeons are affiliated with leading hospitals and health care systems and perform the most minimally invasive spine surgery cases through- out the state. Don’t put yourself at risk. Trust an ANS neurosurgeon to diagnose and treat your deli- cate spine. For more information visit www.ansdocs.com or call 973.285.7800. Back pain can impact your ability to function in your daily life. The sooner you have an accurate diagnosis, the sooner you can get your life back on track. Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists (ANS) is the largest neurosurgical practice in NJ and handles the most minimally invasive spine surgery cases in the state. Our nationally renowned neurosurgeons are fellowship-trained in spine and the most qualified specialists to diagnose and treat your back pain. Don’t let insurance come before your health. Ask to speak with our insurance counselor. For more information, visit www.ansdocs.com or call 973.285.7800 . Glenpointe Centre Atrium 400 Frank W Burr Blvd Teaneck, NJ 07666 201.530.7035 11 Overlook Road Suite 180 Summit, NJ 07901 908.516.2941 310 Madison Avenue Suite 300 Morristown, NJ 07960 973.285.7800 781 Route 15 South Jefferson, NJ 07849 973.729.0266 3700 Route 33 Neptune, NJ 07753 732.455.8225 Your back pain stops here.