Spine-Surgery-Risks-Diabetic-PatientsAt Frisco Spine, we proudly offer a full range of surgical spine treatment options to patients who are seeking relief from debilitating back, neck, leg, joint, and other types of pain. While the skill and experience of our surgeons and the exceptional safety profile of our advanced surgical techniques help to minimize the risk of post-surgical complications, it must be understood that no surgery is without risks. Even the most minimally invasive surgeries have associated risks. During consultations, we make sure to detail these risks to patients so that they can make educated, informed decisions about whether to proceed with surgery.

We are also extremely careful to evaluate patients prior to surgery to ensure their candidacy for a given procedure. In most cases, we recommend non-surgical treatments before recommending surgery; however, this is particularly true when patients have conditions that put them at higher risk of complications if they undergo a surgical procedure. For example, diabetics are inherently more likely to suffer post-surgical complications by nature of their disease, and even more so if their blood glucose levels are not well controlled. We explain the connection between spine surgery and diabetes during consultations at our Frisco, TX spine center so that diabetic patients understand the risks of surgery.

If you have diabetes and want to discuss your spine surgery options, please schedule your initial consultation at Frisco Spine today.

What Risks Do Diabetic Patients Face When Undergoing Spine Surgery?

In general, diabetic patients tend to have greater difficulty healing than non-diabetic patients, which can make the recovery period more difficult. However, they also face a number of specific risks, which can vary from patient to patient and are generally higher among patients with poorly controlled blood glucose levels:

  • Cardiac complications, including heart attack and cardiac arrest
  • Stroke
  • Heel pressure sores
  • Infection at the incision sites
  • Infections in other parts of the body
  • Tuberculosis
  • Lengthier hospital stays
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Post-operative shock
  • Death

Patients whose blood glucose levels are well controlled prior to surgery are at far less risk of these complications than patients whose blood glucose levels are uncontrolled. If your blood glucose levels are not well controlled, then our surgeons may advise you to improve your levels through weight loss, exercise, and medication before you can be considered a good candidate for surgery. Certain diabetic patients may be permitted to undergo spine surgery as long as they understand the risks associated with their procedure; however, others may be limited to non-surgical treatments for the sake of their safety.

Ultimately, it is the goal of our doctors to provide not only the most effective, but also the safest treatments possible. For patients who are not good candidates for spine surgery, we will do our best to find non-surgical alternatives that will provide the best possible results.

Learn More about Spine Surgery and Diabetes

If you would like further information about spine surgery and diabetes, please contact Frisco Spine today. We would be pleased to help you in any way that we can.

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