A. After a failed surgery, further treatment options are varied and complicated. Most spine surgeons will not take on these difficult cases because the normal anatomy has been altered, post-operative scar tissue can be formidable, and the ultimate clinical outcome unpredictable.
The key to success is understanding the changes in anatomy, its relationship to the patient’s symptoms, being realistic regarding outcomes, and utilizing a team approach in the evaluation and approach to treatment – whether surgical or non-surgical. Many of these patients can be helped due to recent advances in comprehensive spine care and surgical techniques, including minimally invasive and reconstruction surgery.
