Hi,

Who is the best orthopedic and/or neurological lower back surgeon in
the Pittsburgh, PA area?

What criteria did you use to arrive at your answer?
How do you objectively distinguish the bad surgeons from the good
surgeons from the best surgeons?

A good answer will include a specific name, along with supporting
reasons for why this person stands above and beyond the rest of the
surgeons in this particular speciality.  Some sort of background
information on the specific surgeon will help, too.  The second part
of the question is as important as the first --- that is, I don't want
to list the criteria *I* think is important, I want to know what
criteria should be used, and given that criteria, who the best is.

Thanks!!

Keith M

Be very wary of having any back surgery unless you're having severe
sciatica (pinched nerve- numbness-pain in leg etc). Back surgery
rarely offers relief of back pain. Go to a top rated teaching hospital
for an evaluation. Look at USNews and World Report Best Hospitals by
specialty and get several opinions. I'm not an expert- this is a free
opinion. I think Dr. Jerome Groopman wrote an interesting article on
this (in the New Yorker a few yrs ago)- he really regrets his back
surgery.

Back when I lived in Pittsburgh, PA there was an spinal orthopedic
surgeon who was quite reknowned. His name was Dr. Sotos. He had an
airfield where his office and clinic were to better allow his more
famous and powerful patients easier access to his services. That was
20 years ago though. He could be dead by now for all I know, but it is
still a good clue.