Spine surgeon training may not be enough to prepare physicians as procedures become more complex, Andrew Fanous, MD, told Becker’s.
Dr. Fanous, neurosurgery chief at Inova Alexandria (Va.) Hospital discussed his perspective and a solution to address it.
Editor’s note: This response has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Dr. Andrew Fanous: The most dangerous trend in spine and orthopedics right now is the inadequate training duration for spine surgeons. Given the increasing complexity of modern spine surgeries and the rapid evolution of techniques, there’s concern that current residency and fellowship training durations may be insufficient. Extending and enhancing training programs could better prepare surgeons for the demands of contemporary practice, ensuring higher standards of patient care. Some leaders are now advocating for two-year spine surgery fellowships, or separate focused tracks (e.g., deformity, tumor or pediatric spine), which would mirror trends in other specialties where subspecialization is necessary due to complexity.
Dr. Fanous is speaking at Becker’s 22nd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, set for June 18-21 at the Swissotel Chicago.
