This was in the LA Times over the weekend. These are always intersting, but they are really sales events.
I'll be going... I want to presonally thank William Dillin... he was the first doctor to make me understand the randomness of failed fusion... his second opinion a week before my 2-level 360 fusion (scheduled August 2000), prompted me to cancel the fusion and seek other options.
He had told me that I stood a 50% chance of being sorry I did the surgery. I said, "That's BS! I'm young, I'm fit, I'm motivated, the rest of my spine is in good shape. The numbers you quote are across the board including HMO hacks who do 10 fusions a year, the same way they learned them decades ago. I'm going to a world class spine surgeon with great experience, new technology, etc.... All this works in my favor, right?"
He said something like, "yes... that all works in your favor, but it's still 50%!" He went on to explain the way fusions fail and how things like lack of fusion and growth of scar tissue are not predictable and don't just plague the poor cases. He explained how one person can grow massive amounts of scar tissue and never know it's there, while others can grow very small amounts and have it ruin thier lives. His was the best dose of reality right when I needed it. I credit him with saving me.
It's quite fitting that his topic is surgery decisions. See you Wednesday if you can make it!
Mark
Woops... edit to change location to Manhattan Beach