If you are suffering from back problems, depending on personal preference, the specific problem and the severity of it, your family physician may set up an appointment with a musculoskeletal-system specialist. He is likely to choose someone who is a spine specialist.
What Is a Spine Specialist?
If you have a back problem, chances are you will be sent to see an orthopedist. Orthopedic doctors are health professionals who focus on treating conditions and disorders that affect the spine. Today, they can also perform spine surgery, once the almost exclusive domain of neurosurgeons.
In order to perform their work, orthopedic spine specialists must have the education and the specialized training to address a variety of spinal conditions and disorders. They need to know how to diagnose, define, treat and prevent such spine-related health problems as:
- Congenital abnormalities
- Fractured vertebrae
- Herniated or ruptured discs
- Infections
- Osteoporosis
- Scoliosis
- Spinal deformity
- Spinal stenosis
- Spine injuries
- Tumors
They must have the training to perform various types of treatment and surgical procedures such as discectomies and spinal fusion.
Education and Licensure Matter
Orthopedic surgeons can be one of two types of doctors. They may have a medical degree or hold one in osteopathic medicine. In other words, they are MDs or Dos. In addition to this qualification, if they want to be a spine specialist, they must successfully complete a five-year surgical residency after their normal training and residency. During this extra time, sometimes called a spine fellowship program, the emphasis is specifically on the treatment of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.
Before taking on a spine fellowship program, the orthopedic doctor will have obtained his licensure from the state as well as successfully passed the required board certification. This is an indicator of the time and effort an orthopedic doctor has invested to become a specialist in this field. Anyone who enters into the extra training is demonstrating a dedication to a greater understanding of their craft. It also shows the desire to increase personal skill in matters that affect spinal treatment and surgery. This devotion to developing and honing the expertise is an integral and important part of becoming a professional and adept orthopedic spinal specialist.
If you are concerned and feel that you need to see a spine specialist, do not hesitate to talk to the experienced and expert physicians and staff at Suburban Orthopaedics. Their compassionate approach to their patients has resulted in quality care for more than 25 years. For more information on a medical facility that offers high-quality and caring services to their patients, visit www.suburbanortho.com. You can also follow them on Twitter for more updates!