Patient service

Is surgery really necessary?

Only the correct diagnosis leads to the
successful treatment.

IS SURGERY REALLY NECESSARY?

Severe back pain. Everything the doctor has prescribed so far only works temporarily, or not at all. Painkillers, injections, and physiotherapy have little effect. Alarmingly often, patients then hear the doctor's advice: "Unfortunately, there's nothing more we can do. You'll have to have surgery!"„

At this point, almost every affected person starts to inquire and research online. Suddenly, many questions arise: Is this really necessary? Are there no alternatives? How risky is the surgery? What complications can occur? What are the long-term effects? How often do these occur?

These concerns are justified. Scientists have found in numerous studies that at least one in three orthopedic surgeries is unnecessary. This applies primarily to procedures on the knee or hip.

The situation is even more dramatic with spinal surgeries. Experts and health insurance companies suspect that at least 80 percent of all back surgeries could be avoided.

What many sufferers don't know: If conservative methods fail, minimally invasive procedures can not only eliminate the pain but often also avoid surgery. This includes techniques such as X-ray-guided injections, treatments with radiofrequency, thermal, or laser probes, nerve fiber ablation, and the insertion of hydrogel implants.

What most patients are also unaware of: For several years now, anyone who has been recommended spinal surgery by their doctor has had the right to a second opinion. They can have themselves examined by another spinal specialist at the expense of their health insurance.

A second diagnosis from an expert has many advantages. It can prevent a misdiagnosis or simply dispel doubts for the patient and give them a better feeling if surgery is actually necessary.

The legal basis for a qualified second opinion in planned spinal or disc surgeries is the Healthcare Strengthening Act (§ 27b SGB V), passed by the German Bundestag in 2015. According to this law, every patient has the right to receive all results and documents from their initial diagnosis. With these results, the patient can then consult another specialist to obtain a second opinion without having to undergo all the examinations again.

Doctors who recommend spinal surgery, for example spinal fusion, are obliged to inform patients about their legal right to a second opinion and to compile the necessary documents for the second opinion provider.