{"id":"197f949f-1fc3-45ff-b7f3-cd47c38a6920","slug":"letter-to-the-editor-regarding-why-would-two-patients-with-no-disease-be-offered-unnecessary-transforaminal-lumbar-interbody-fusions","title":"Letter to the editor regarding “why would two patients with no disease be offered unnecessary transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions?”","authors":["Suryanarayanan Bhaskar","Jaskaran Singh Gosal","Mayank Garg","Deepak Kumar Jha"],"abstract":"Background: The editorial discusses the concerning trend of unnecessary transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIF) being offered to patients without disease. It highlights the importance of maintaining a virtuous doctor-patient relationship amidst the growing influence of the implant industry on surgical decisions. Summary: The authors emphasize the need for improved doctor-patient communication, particularly regarding patient expectations from surgery. They argue that understanding what patients hope to achieve from their treatment can prevent misunderstandings and unnecessary procedures. The article illustrates this point with an example of a patient whose expectations were not aligned with the surgical outcome. Conclusion: The authors call for a renewed focus on the connection between physicians and patients to enhance empathy and conscientiousness in medical practice. They warn that neglecting this aspect could undermine the nobility of the medical profession. Keywords: transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, doctor-patient communication, patient expectations, surgery outcomes, medical ethics, spinal surgery","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/placeholders/specialty/spine.png","publishDate":"2019-12-06T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_553_2019","categories":["Spine","Letter to the Editor"],"fullTextUrl":"http://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/9785/SNI-10-238.pdf"}