Picking a Surgeon?

[Jayne]

Considering this is not something one does often, I was wondering how each of you choose your surgeon. I guess I'm asking because I like my surgeon but, I'm hoping he is the one I need personally. I don't want to have anyone else because I have only heard positive things about him. He is not pushy only a very caring person.
Thanks for any input.
Jayne

 

[Judles]

I went for the Chairman of Orthopedics at a major hospital in New York, He also came highly recommended. The minute I met him he put my mind at ease! I knew nothing and didn't have the knowlege of the forum having found it a few weeks AFTER my RTHR! It was one of the best decisions I have ever made!

 

[Jamie]

Jayne, I think reputation IS one of the most important things to consider. You want someone who performs a LOT of the specific surgery you are needing. Therefore people's opinion (along with the numbers) does count. Also, infection rate from his surgeries. An important personal thing for me was the surgeon's willingness to spend time talking to me and answering questions.

 

[Josephine]

Please read this post How to choose a surgeon and a prosthesis

There's a lot of information in there you should take into account, apart from the man's local reputation.

 

[Jayne]

Jo, Thank you for the info. I am now REALLY at ease because my surgeon covered those things on my first visit and I hadn't even decided to go with him. Thank you!!!
Jayne

 

[Jenniferne]

First of all I had to find a surgeon that was in my insurance network. I got a list of names and took them to my family doctor and let him pick.

I am on my 3rd week after my tkp and no one believes I had a tkp done. My scar looks fantasic and I feel great. I am soooooooo pleased with my surgeon. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a good orthopadic surgeon in Nebraska.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Jen,
So glad to hear that you are doing so well. With spring here in the mid-west it is hard not to be able to get out and enjoy everything that is in bloom.

 

[backbay38]

Jayne -- glad you're happy with your surgeon! I second everything Jamie said but I basically found my surgeon at first almost by accident -- a nurse at my gym who had him do her TKR 3 years ago mentioned his name a year before I decided to do it -- while I was still in denial that I needed a TKR. So I luckily saw her again at the gym, got the surgeon's name and then started mentioning it to people who all came back with someone they knew, or themselves, who had that surgeon. The hopsital he's associated with also had a place for patients to post their post-surgical reviews which was very helpful. And then when i met him I just liked him. He was so direct and no nonsence and patiently answered all my extensive list of questions and then called me back several times when I had more questions..... You do have to feel a level of comfort I think as well as confidence he can do the job.

 

[Girtongirl]

Hi there,

I've read this post and the one suggested by Jo and they are helpful, but I wondered how much choice I have on the NHS here in the UK?

I've been to Addenbrookes in Cambridge and there didn't seem to be a choice.

thanks
Charlie

 

[Jamie]

Charlie, Jo says that there was some change in the laws in the UK last January that do permit you to "shop" for a surgeon if you want to. If she doesn't respond directly on the forum, send her a private message and ask how you go about doing that.

 

[Josephine]

Choice on what, specifically?

Choice of hospital is up to you now - early this year the government made it possible for all patients to have a choice of hospital. You just need to ask your GP to refer you there.

If it's choice of prosthesis - that is not something that is within the patient's choice and nor should it be. Choice of implants is a skilled thing that should be done by the surgeons - that's their job. They spend a considerable part of their lives developing skills at using a particular prosthesis and it's no more appropriate for you to expect to dictate to them which product they use than it would be for you to dictate to your dentist which equipment he uses to treat your teeth.

Besides which, once the implant is in, there is no possible way you would have any idea whether you had products a, b or c put in. Despite the manufacturers claims on their literature and websites, it's a fact that they are all pretty much of a muchness in the end.

If you are happy with the surgeon you have chosen or been referred to, then trust him regarding which implant he uses. He'll have been using it for many years and it will therefore have a good track record in his hands. Not that any surgeon would change, but if one should be coerced into using a prosthesis he'd not used before, the complications risk would become astronomical.

 

[Girtongirl]

No, I am very happy with what the surgeon is suggesting, mainly for the reasons you suggest - I'm relying on him to be the expert cos I'm not. I was more thinking about whether I should consider any other surgeons/hospitals. I think not because addenbrookes is generally very good and the surgeon does inspire trust in me, but it is good to know that there is a choice - thank you

 

[Gringo]

you can second-guess yourself crazy on this thing. Even after I did all the research and decided upon a surgeon that had been recommended to me, as soon as other people found out I was going for a TKR they started coming up with names of THEIR surgeons for me to check with. Lets face it, every surgeon out there has a bunch of supporters and possibly a few people unhappy. But since this surgery has something like a 95% success rate, it would be difficult for you to even find a bad surgeon unless you worked at it.

Make the decision and go with it unless someone comes up with a good reason to change. The fact that there is another good surgeon somewhere else is not a good reason to dump the one you have chosen. There will ALWAYS be another good surgeon to consider if you are looking for excuses to delay things.

 

[Jamie]

Gringo, I totally agree with you.

 

[Josephine]

Haven't I said as much in my "How to choose ... " post?

 

[Jamie]

Yep, Jo....THAT'S TRUE!!! It's just such great advice, it bears repeating -- a lot!!!