Follow-up appointments will vary by the type of surgery and the preferences of the surgeon. Some procedures such as disc excisions may require only one or two follow-up visits while fusions may require follow-up for several years. The surgeon will follow the patient until that patient has achieved a stable outcome that no longer requires active treatment.
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Depending on the specific situation, I generally see patients several times after surgery -- until we are assured that all is well.
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Most surgeons see their patients back three or four times following surgery. Usually this is done at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year following the procedure.
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Typically we see our surgical patients one or two weeks after leaving the hospital to check the incision and assure that the healing process is progressing appropriately. For minor decompression surgery, patients are typically seen at the six-week point to assess their status and institute physical therapy. Fusion surgeries require more time to allow the fusion to heal and patients are typically seen every six to eight weeks to gauge the process and obtain radiographs of the spinal fusion to ensure that it is healing well.
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Patients typically see their surgeon 2 weeks, 3 months, 1 year, 2 years, and then every 3 to 5 years after their surgery.
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This depends upon the surgeon. Many surgeons will see patients twice during the first three months and then a few more times during the first year depending on their level of symptoms. Then a periodic visit to follow the fusion and adjacent levels is often helpful.
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The specific type of operation performed will determine a framework for the number and frequency of post-operative visits with your surgeons. The speed of recovery, overall success and the presence or absence of complications will then impact upon that schedule. For some spinal operations, only months of follow-up are required, while for others, years may be necessary.
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First post-op visit at 1 week; then monthly.
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Multiple visits to your surgeon will be necessary after the procedure is complete. The initial visit will usually occur within one to two weeks after the surgery itself. Frequent visits over the next several months and up to 1 to 1 ½ years is not uncommon.
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Your surgeon will give you specific guidelines. Usually you will see your surgeon at gradually increasing intervals for the first year or as needed. If continued follow up is indicated by your particular circumstances your surgeon will discuss this with you.
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This varies among surgeons and to the surgical procedure performed. In general, 2 - 5 times over 3 - 6 mos. I follow patients who had fusions for a minimum of 2 years.
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You need to see your surgeon if you feel you have a complication. I like to see the patient three or four weeks after surgery, then three months, six months, and a year after the surgical procedure. Certainly, every patient is different, and your surgeon will guide you as to how often he would like to see you or, if you feel like you are having problems, you need to see the surgeon yourself.
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The number of times you see your surgeon depends on the type of surgery you have. You will see your surgeon for at least three or four visits after surgery for smaller surgeries or multiple visits for multiple years after larger surgeries.
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Every surgeon has their own protocol. In general, a patient would see the surgeon approximately two weeks after surgery for suture removal and then at that point, six weeks, three months, six months, and a year.
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It depends upon what your surgery is, and your surgeon's specific protocol.
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Early on, frequently and later on continue for interval periods for up to 2 years.
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I see my patients immediately postoperative and a month later and then depending on how they are doing I will follow up perhaps every month and a half to two months. For simple spine procedures like a disc herniation or spine stenosis, sometimes there are only two postoperative visits. For fusion operations where we are interested in making sure that the spine is actually fused, I may follow some patients up to two or three years, depending on their symptoms and what I see on their x-rays.
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I think performing spine surgery obligates the surgeon to a lifelong commitment to the patient. The surgeon should be available for any concerns that arise regarding the spine. Typical scheduled follow-up for disk surgery is 12 weeks. We see fusion patients at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 5 months, 9 months, 12 and 24 months post-op. After that, it is up to the patient.
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Your surgeon will give you specific quidelines. Usually you will see your surgeon monthly for the first 3 months and then at 3 month intervals for the first year if continued follow up is indicated by your particular circumstances.
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In general, you see your surgeon at one, three, six, 12 and 24 months after surgery unless there are other issues that need to be addressed.
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Most patients need to be seen by their surgeon within the first two weeks of surgery for suture removal and to ensure that the healing is progressing appropriately. Patients who have had decompression surgeries, such as a laminectomy, then return after one month to begin physical therapy. I like to have my spinal fusion patients return at 6 weeks, 6 months, and one year in order to monitor the progress of their fusions. Subsequent visits are then individualized to the specific needs of each patient.
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Routinely after surgery, your surgeon will want to see you at regular intervals for at least 2 years.
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I frequently will see my patients six weeks, three months, six months and every year thereafter following the surgery. This regimen is very much the choice of the individual surgeon and should be discussed with your doctor.
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Post-operative visits will depend on the procedure and your surgeon. In my clinic, I see patients who have had a fusion 1 week post-operatively, and then at intervals of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months post-op.
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