What happens before the operation?

Patient assessment – your personal medical history

Your doctor will firstly ask you to give details of your complaints: he will want to know where it hurts and where the pain radiates to. He will also ask about the intensity of the pain, its duration and any factors which intensify or ease the discomfort.

Question: What other questions will the doctor ask me?: • Have you suffered from spinal disorders in the past or do other members of your family suffer from other bone diseases?
• Do you have any allergies, in particular to antibiotics?
• Are you aware of any metabolic, cardiac or pulmonary disorders?
• Do you regularly take medication, and if so what kind?
• Have you undergone surgery before?
Tip: ideally you should have taken some time beforehand to think about any illnesses and operations – you can then present the doctor with a list of important details from your medical history. A list of medications which includes details of when and how much of each medication was taken is also very important. Some types of medication must be discontinued or changed prior to a surgical intervention. These include some anticoagulatory preparations, pain killers, diabetes medication as well as certain plant-based medication. Please consult your family doctor in good time before the operation!

Physical examination – where does it hurt? The doctor will firstly examine your spine, pelvis and shoulders and, when doing so, will palpate various muscles and tissue structures. He will then perform a few movement tests in order to gain an impression of the mobility of the spine. He also examines the painfulness of various movements in the spine, such as bending and stretching and also conducts a short neurological examination to test the mobility and sensation of the arms and legs, as well as the reflexes.

X-ray, MRI, CT – focus on your spine

The doctor can often detect a vertebral body fracture on an X-ray image. In some cases further examinations may be necessary: magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, computed tomography, abbreviated to CT, or scintigraphy. These methods aim to visualise the vertebral body fracture in greater detail and in particular establish how old it is. After all, the sooner surgery is performed after a vertebral body fracture, the better the outcome.

Preoperative discussion – your chance to ask any questions

On the day before the operation, the surgeon will usually talk to you in detail when he briefs you about informed consent. He will explain the surgical method and answer any questions you may have. When you sign the consent form, you agree to the operation. The anaesthetist will also talk to you on the day before the operation to explain the potential risks involved with the anaesthesia, if a general anaesthetic is planned. He will also perform a few minor examinations; he is particularly interested in your heart and lung functions and any possible allergies.

Question: What do I need to tell the doctor?: In the majority of cases, the surgeon will ask you about your state of health on the day before the operation. Do not hesitate to inform your doctor of any complaints which you consider minor, such as colds and skin infections, even if you are not asked. Although harmless, these illnesses need to be cured before a surgical intervention.