Outpatient appointment with Mr S, consultant neurosurgeon. After going over the background he asked me to show him how I walk, then to walk on my heels, then on my toes. All seemed quite normal, but he then asked me to walk heel-to-toe and I was all over the place. We reviewed some of the MRI and he showed me the extent of the cord deviation and point of herniation. He explained the procedure to me, and also pointed out that he has only performed the operation twice before and so would understand if I wanted to be referred on. My view is that Southampton has a great reputation for this sort of work, so why get referred elsewhere (probably London). It seems that surgery is the only option, and he feels it needs to be done as a matter of urgency. The consent form describes the following:
Name of procedure: Laminectomy for reduction of spinal cord herniation and duraplasty
Intended benefits: To prevent neurological deterioration
Risks: Bleeding, infection, CSF leak, weakness, numbness, paralysis and loss of bowl and bladder function, spinal instability.
Having discussed the expected outcomes, I confirmed that I wanted to go ahead. Mr S needs to juggle his lists around to fit me and another urgent case in but he expects to be operating “imminently”.