A spine center should define the diagnosis before discussing an operation
Back or neck pain can have multiple causes. A specialist review should determine whether there is a structural target that plausibly explains the symptoms and whether surgery is expected to improve pain, neurological function, stability or deformity.
- Degenerative disc or facet disease
- Spinal stenosis and nerve compression
- Spondylolisthesis or instability
- Spinal deformity
- Traumatic or inflammatory disease
- Primary or metastatic spinal tumors
- Problems after previous spine surgery
Open and minimally invasive techniques are tools, not goals
UKE describes both open and minimally invasive access to cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine disease. The appropriate approach depends on anatomy and the surgical objective. A smaller incision is not automatically better if it cannot safely accomplish the required decompression, stabilization or reconstruction.
Revision spine surgery needs extra information
Patients who already had surgery should provide prior operative reports and current imaging. The team may need to determine whether symptoms relate to recurrent compression, adjacent-level disease, non-union, implant problems, infection or another diagnosis.
Urgent neurological symptoms should not wait for medical travel
New or rapidly worsening weakness, major loss of sensation, loss of bladder or bowel control, saddle-area numbness or other acute neurological deterioration can require urgent local assessment. A planned international second opinion should not delay emergency evaluation.
Records for an international spine review
Send the study that actually shows the relevant anatomy and enough clinical information to connect imaging with symptoms.
- Recent MRI and/or CT images in original format when requested
- Radiology reports
- Standing X-rays for deformity or alignment questions when available
- Neurological examination findings
- History of pain, weakness, numbness and walking limitation
- Previous surgery and implant reports
- Treatments already tried and their effect
Official sources
Sources last checked 2026-08-29. Surgical indications, hospital pathways and rehabilitation plans can change; confirm the current plan with the treating orthopedic or spine team.