The most common query when patients think about spinal surgery is: "Who is better, a neurosurgeon or a spinal surgeon?" The rapid answer is that trained orthopedic and neurosurgeons both can be considered for most types of spine surgery. This article describes the differences and similarities between these two specialties and provides further information on the selection of a spinal specialist.

However, in the past 25-30 years, spine surgery has developed so that neurosurgeons and orthopedics are both specialized in spine operation. Moreover, both types of have enough qualification and experience to perform such surgeries. Neurosurgeons are primarily responsible for the spine surgery.

In the two areas specializing in pediatrics, lumbar and cervical spinal cord, the wrist or hand surgery, plastic surgery or other fields or procedures, surgeons can specialize.

Neurosurgeons

Neurosurgeons may be physicians or pharmaceutics, and they may complete a residency of five to six years focusing on neurological surgery. The diagnosis and appropriate treatment involves:

• Spine and backbone

• Nerves

• Brain

• Vasculature both intracranial and intracranial

Some neurosurgeons are exclusively specialized in brain surgery, some in spinal surgery and some split between them.

Orthopedic Surgeons

Medical doctors or Doctors for Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) that have an experience of five-year surgical residency withdiagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions can also be orthopedic surgeons. Orthopedists are specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of nearly all bone and joint disorders, for example:

• Arthritis

• Insults to sport

• Trauma

• Tumors of the bone

• Injuries and malformations in hands

• Total substitution of the joint

Some orthopedic surgeons focus on spinal surgery alone and others split their practice into two or more areas, with other forms of joints (e.g. hip, knees, and shoulders).

Neurosurgeons, as well as orthopedic surgeons, can complete fellowship training in most types of spinal surgery, but several types of spinal surgery have more qualifications in one specialty than in the other, for example,

• Many neurosurgeons are more trained today in performing deformity surgeries like scoliosis.

• Intradural surgery are performed better than any tumor

After a residency, orthopedic operators and neurosurgeons can extend their training through a spinal cord program. These fellowships provide extra specialized training for orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, which have completed their stay training successfully and have received their certification from the board or their specialty eligibility.

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**Disclaimer: This blog post does not establish terms of a doctor-patient relationship and is not intended to be taken as a doctor's advice.