{"id":"f4d72164-22f4-403e-8017-cbd399b8dca9","slug":"interventionist-performs-a-sham-lumbar-microdiscectomy-should-interventionalists-be-performing-spinal-surgery","title":"Interventionist performs a “sham” lumbar microdiscectomy: Should interventionalists be performing spinal surgery?","authors":["Ramsis F. Ghaly","Zinaida Perciuleac","Kenneth D. Candido","Nebojsa Nick Knezevic"],"abstract":"Background: Neurosurgeons and orthopedists, who have received specific training, should be the ones performing spinal surgery. Here, we present a case in which spinal surgeons secondarily (e.g., 6 months later) found that a patient’s first lumbar discectomy, performed by an interventional specialist, had been a “sham” procedure. Case Description: A 30-year-old male presented with sciatica attributed to a magnetic resonance imaging documented large, extruded disc at the L4-5 level. An interventional pain management specialist (IPMS) performed two epidural steroid injections; these resulted in an exacerbation of his pain. The IPMS then advised the patient that he was a surgeon and performed an “interventional” microdiscectomy. Secondarily, 6 months later, when the patient presented to a spinal neurosurgeon with a progressive cauda equina syndrome, the patient underwent a bilateral laminoforaminotomy and L4-L5 microdiscectomy. Of interest, at surgery, there was no evidence of scarring from the IPMS’ prior “microdiscectomy;” it had been a “sham” operation. Following the second surgery, the patient’s cauda equina syndrome resolved. Conclusion: IMPS, who are not trained as spinal surgeons should not be performing spinal surgery/ microdiscectomy.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/f4d72164-22f4-403e-8017-cbd399b8dca9/featured/hero-1781562824237.png","publishDate":"2020-12-29T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_672_2020","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/10501/SNI-11-467.pdf"}