Christian Zimmerman, MD, has seen several transformations in spine surgery and how physicians work.
Dr. Zimmerman, of Saint Alphonsus in Boise, Idaho, spoke with Becker’s about ideas that he wants to see change in the future.
Note: This response was lightly edited.
Question: What’s a spine technique or technology that will be obsolete by 2035? Why?
Dr. Christian Zimmerman: Having had the opportune advantage of both training and practicing in the ‘golden age’ of complex spinal surgery gives one a particular perspective and discernment. From fellowship to current employed status and both witnessing and utilizing so many fortuitous innovations, I am likewise fortunate and appreciative. There have certainly been a number of welcome transitions which fit this specific narrative and will have prevailing and future application for years to come.
Transition is without exception, and a number of changes are straightaway noted in their probable obsolescence as this specialty moves forward. Primarily, spinal surgical recommendations for the aged. There was a time in my career, when the octogenarians were excluded from consideration because of a hallowed benchmark, not necessarily considering one’s stature in life and the disease’s impact on that person’s lifestyle and presentation. It is quite common in our practice for highly active, lucid and generally healthy nonagenarian patients to request surgery to maintain their enterprise and habits. There are no absolutes in decision-making, and we feel strongly that individual assessments are more prevailing.
Another antiquated mindset in spinal surgery, currently under extreme scrutiny and exodus, are multilevel, spanning fusion procedures between thoracic and lumbar segments. Seldom witnessed are the benefits or marginal improvements that these procedures represent to patients or families. Routinely, there is discovered hardware misplacement or breakage, pseudoarthrosis and complete enhancement and perpetuation of an incurable pain syndrome. Over usage and universal regret seems to be the trend.
