Who is considered the most experienced ADR surgeon in the U.S.?

[Buckeyeback]

Is it Dr. Delamarter at LA Spine or one of the Texas Back Institute surgeons? Possibly someone else?

Thanks.

[Cirobi]

I'm not sure there is a single most experienced ADR surgeon in the states. There is likely a small group scattered throughout that are equally experienced.

From what I understand, Dr. Balderston in Philadelphia is pretty high up there on the experience list and has been doing ADRs since the first trials in the US (could be mistaken but I thought I read something along those lines when I was digging up information prior to my own surgery). I know he does one and two level regularly and stated to me that he was expanding to more levels as well. There was a nun who wound up having her follow up appointments the same days as me at first and she was a 2-level lumbar surgery. I remember from reading prior to surgery and considering getting more opinions that when I found out he was one of the big names in ADR surgeries in the states, I felt there was no good reason to get more opinions since I didn't see other spine surgeons listed in various articles I read so it didn't make sense to me to go get an opinion from someone less experienced with the type of procedure I was going to get.

~Sara

[Harrison]

The docs in the states that started with the Charite trials -- they started in 2000 and were already experienced spine surgeons. Dr. Banco was one, he did my L5-S1 in Boston in 2004. Dr. Blumenthal (TBI) did the first in the US in 2000; the first ADR patient (Kyle) is doing well.

[Buckeyeback]

Thanks Sara and Harrison. I thought Delamarter had quite a few ADR's under his belt, but I could be mistaken. Maybe he is the most renowned ADR surgeon in California?

[Cirobi]

I'm not sure personally as I don't know much about docs in CA. I was in no position to go outside of my own state, but then again, fortunately, I didn't really need to.

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by Buckeyeback

Is it Dr. Delamarter at LA Spine or one of the Texas Back Institute surgeons? Possibly someone else?

Thanks.

When I had a consult with Dr. Paul Macafee in Baltimore had told me he had done 200 ADR surgeries. This was more than two years ago.

Kirk

[Eddie_G]

Jeffrey Goldstein NYU

[davidj8121]

Dr. Zigler at TBI did my three Prodisc's. I can't say enough great things about him.

[Harrison]

As usual, I'll answer with a question or two. How would you define experience? These are good questions to consider for any of us:

1. How many arthroplasty patients has the spine doc treated directly -- as compared to -- been part of the team?

2. How many of the doctors' patients are happy campers? Meaning satisfied with their outcomes?

3. How many artificial discs has the surgeon placed? How many multilevel discs has the surgeon placed?

4. How many DIFFERENT disc designs does the surgeon have experience with -- and has successfully implanted -- with good results? Are they following up with those patients and measuring their outcomes?

5. How long has the doc been practicing spine surgery? Arthroplasty? Since what date have they been licensed, trained and practicing arthroplasty? More on this important topic next week.

[femalepowerlifter310]

Hey gang,
I was referred to Dr. Delamarter and the LA Spince Center by a surgeon friend who worked in the same hospital at one point. I believe LA Spine and TX Back are the two most respected for ADR in the country, at least from my research.

I also met 10-12 patients of Rasouli's before meeting him the first time, and they ALL thought he hung the moon. As for me? I think so too now. I'm very happy with my outcome thus far... and I really like him as a human and his attitude!