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@annie1 Medicare does publish success rate information for certain procedures (not all) for surgeons who accept Medicare and also similar rates for medical centers and hospitals. You also can check if a doctor has been disciplined by looking up the licensing board for the state. When I asked my surgeon his success rate for the procedure he recommended, he told me. They do know their statistics. Insurance companies also know this information or at least they know who the better surgeons are. You should look for medical publications they have authored. Ask your personal physician how they would look for a good surgeon.
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@jenniferhunter
I am frustrated with not getting direct answers from any of the surgeons I have consulted about their complication rate. I saw the head of spine surgery today at a notable hospital in NYC and asked him how many patients with similar symptoms like mine and osteoporosis that he has done fusion on and he said he couldn't remember any. He said he's done about 1,000 fusion surgeries in his career. Another surgeon also said he has had "none." Can anyone tell me how to get the real numbers from these guys ? The former surgeon I mentioned was recommended here by someone, although that person didn't have osteoporosis.
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@jenniferhunter
Ok, so I can call Medicare and tell them the surgeon's name and they can look up their success rate ? I met with a surgeon today from HSS who told me he has had No cases with complications. Someone else on here didn't think that was quite believable, but I will call Medicare and ask if they have any info on him.