Patient Stories: Jean Brockett Connie Droste Sandra Izdebski John Strickler

6 Tips for Choosing an Orthopedic Surgeon

Patients, like Connie Droste of Portland, Michigan, enjoy the right to a second medical opinion. Unhappy with her orthopedic surgeon’s decision to delay a hip-replacement surgery, she sought the opinion of a second surgeon.

“I couldn’t believe the doctor wanted me to wait,” Connie said. “I was in excruciating pain.”

For individuals who are looking for an orthopedic surgeon, it’s important to ensure a positive patient-practitioner relationship. Following are some tips to help you find the right orthopedic surgeon.

1. Start with your primary-care physician and ask for a referral.
2. Ask family and friends to recommend an orthopedic surgeon. Arthritis and ACL and joint-replacement surgeries are common today — you’re sure to know someone with first-hand experience.

   “I asked my golfing buddy, because I knew she already had a total hip replacement, and she couldn’t have been happier with the results,” said Connie. “I ended up going with her orthopedic surgeon, Dr. McCardel.”

3. Check your surgeon’s background out online. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons have online databases for consumer access.
4. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid or uncomfortable to ask your orthopedic surgeon about credentials and experience. Your surgeon should be willing to answer all your questions.

   “They told us what to expect, and what would happen,” said Todd Droste, Connie’s husband. “That’s the one thing I really liked. It felt very comfortable.”

For starters, here are some commonly asked questions:

1. Are you board certified?
2. Approximately how many of these surgeries are done each year at Sparrow?
3. What is your experience with this type of surgery? How many have you performed?
4. What risks might be involved that I need to consider?
5. Is there written material or videotapes about this, and how likely are those risks?
6. Will I be anesthetized? How? What are the risks?
7. What type of implant will be used? How durable is it? What else do I need to know about it?
8. How long will I need to stay in the hospital?
9. How long is the recovery process?
10. Will I experience a lot of pain? If so, what kind of pain relief will be available to me?
11. Will I need physical therapy? For how long?
12. Any restrictions on everyday activities, such as driving, showering or bathing, climbing up and down stairs and sex?
13. How long will I need to be off work?
14. How often must I return for follow-up appointments?
15. What are the signs of trouble or complication that I should look for post-surgery?
16. How much improvement should I expect following surgery?
5. Get a second opinion to make sure you understand what you’re being told and to ensure that you and your surgeon are on the same page.
6. Don’t settle. If a potential doctor gives you a bad feeling, it may just be that you’re not suited for each other. In that case, you should keep looking for the right fit.