Surgery is a decision you should make with full information. These are the questions I want every patient to ask.
About the Procedure
- What is the specific name of the procedure?
- What are the alternatives (including non-surgical)?
- What are the realistic expected outcomes?
- What are the risks specific to this procedure?
- How many of these have you done?
About Recovery
- What does weight-bearing look like in week 1, week 4, week 8, month 3?
- When can I drive? Return to work? Return to exercise?
- What’s the realistic timeline to “feeling normal”?
- What happens if recovery doesn’t go as expected?
About Cost and Logistics
- Where will the procedure be done?
- What anesthesia will be used?
- What does insurance cover?
- What out-of-pocket cost should I expect?
About Long-Term Outcome
- What’s the expected long-term result?
- What’s the recurrence rate?
- Will I need additional surgery in the future?
- What are the long-term restrictions on activity?
I welcome these questions. Patients who ask them have better outcomes - they understand the plan, they participate in it, and they hold us all accountable to it.
