Interdisciplinary
medical consultation hour
We are an interdisciplinary team of orthopaedic and neurosurgical spine surgeons and pain specialists. The distances in our institution are short and we can involve other specialists very quickly in case of special patient needs.
Spinal surgery: the entire spectrum
Whether minimally invasive, conventional or revision surgery:
For you as a patient, modern spinal surgery means having access to a practically unmanageable number of different surgical methods. The treatment procedures sometimes differ significantly, and not every method is equally suitable for all spinal problems.
Today, many spinal diseases can be treated with minimally invasive surgical methods (“microscopic”, “endoscopic” “MIS”, through the “keyhole”). However, open, conventional or combined open/minimally invasive procedures are still used, typically for revision surgery on pre-operated backs.
It is important to adapt the surgical technique not only optimally to the spinal disease itself, but also to the personal circumstances of the patient and his or her secondary diseases.
For us, the optimal consultation of you, the patient, is in the foreground.
Interventional pain therapy:
Diagnostic and therapeutic infiltrations
In many cases, specific pain originating in the spine can initially be relieved by means of a direct, image-guided injection of painkillers. Using modern imaging techniques (ultrasound, X-ray, CT), the drugs are precisely injected directly into the structure to be treated.
Even in cases of severe wear and tear, surgery can often be delayed or possibly avoided altogether.
On the other hand, infiltrations also serve to distinguish painful (symptomatic) from non-painful (non-symptomatic) spinal changes. In this way, operations can be better planned and unnecessary additional interventions, which burden the patient but are of no use, can be avoided.
Advice, Second Opinions, Expert Opinions
We offer our patients a detailed consultation and enough time to ask questions. A person familiar to you is welcome to accompany you if you would like to discuss the treatment with someone else.
The quality of medical care in Switzerland is probably unique in the world, and this naturally also applies to the treatment of spinal disorders. Swiss doctors go through a long, intensive training and further education before they can practise medicine. Nevertheless, unanswered questions or uncertainties may remain after a consultation with a doctor or, under certain circumstances, the desired result may not be achieved after treatment.
We offer qualified second opinions for spinal disorders, both before and after surgical interventions. We carry out these opinions in an unbiased and non-judgemental manner, in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct of the Swiss Medical Association (FMH) and the “Code of Behaviour” of the FMCH.
On request, we also carry out expert reports for insurance companies (insurance medical reports).
Pain therapy methods
As a rule, a well-monitored, conservative therapy with an adjustment of activity, painkillers and physiotherapy already leads to a significant reduction in pain. If further measures are necessary, infiltrations with painkillers can be helpful, as already described above.
If these measures are still not sufficient or if the result is not permanent, or if surgery is not or no longer possible for permanent pain relief, further pain therapy procedures may be considered.
– Extended medicinal pain therapy, opiate rotations
– Infusion therapy
– Radiofrequency treatment of pain-conducting nerves, e.g. at the facet joints
– Spinal neuromodulation:pain pumps, epidural neurostimulation / posterior cord stimulation
– Sympathetic nerve blocks for Sudeck’s disease, shingles, etc.
– Chemoneurolysis, especially for tumours
– Ultrasound-guided infiltration of larger nerves outside the spinal column, e.g. after an accident with nerve injury.
You will soon find further details in our FAQ.
Inpatient, multidisciplinary care
Our team of doctors is also available to you during inpatient stays, especially in the context of pain conditions after operations. Reliable treatment of pain includes the optimal adjustment of pain medication before, during and after the inpatient stay. In particular, the interaction of different medications is checked, which is especially important for patients with secondary diseases and thus many medications (polypharmacy).
