The list below is just some possibilities, loose suggestions if you will, on what you may choose to ask your doctor. It is not intended as a biblical guide of what to ask. Use your judgment about your own condition, your circumstances, and what you know about your doctor. (Some doctors would not take kindly to some of these. Use careful judgment.)
I hope this will just help assist you in asking your own question.
I hope this will just help assist you in asking your own question.
BRACHYMETATARSIA
1. Am I a candidate for the one-stage surgery, or the external fixator? Why or why not?
2. Do you do digital xrays? If yes— Can you provide them as DICOM files on CD for me?
3. How much do the surgeries go for? Cost?
4. How many Brachymetatarsia surgeries have you done? (In the past 5 years?)
5. Would I be anesthetized or would only my foot be numbed?
6. How long is the surgery?
7. Would you be doing the surgery yourself or would another doctor from this office do it? (Who are those helping you? Interns? Surgeons? Internists?— How long have you been performing surgeries with them?)
8. Are these surgeries usually covered by insurance?
(Please read my thoughts on this, No. 5, here)
9. How long would the fixator be in? What do I have to do at home? and for how long?
10. Would I have a hard or soft cast? For how long?
11. How many doctor visits would I have post-op?
12. What medications would you be prescribing? Before? After?
13. Have you ever had an unsuccessful Brachy surgery? (percentage?) What did you have to do to remedy it?
14. Would my Brachy toe still have the same mobility I have now? (Functionality) Why or why not?
15. Where would you do the incision?
16. Would I be on crutches after? For how long?
17. Have you ever had surgery on your foot?
18. Do you use a cadaver bone for the extension of the toe? If not, where do you get the bone from?
19. Can you provide referrals from any of your patients whom you've performed this surgery?
20. Any mandatory medications or nutritional supplements you recommend before surgery?
21. Is pre-approval needed from my insurance company?
22. Do you have payment plans without interest? What are the details?
23. What are the top three complications with Brachy surgery?
BUNION
1. What Bunion surgery do you feel is best for me? and Why?
(Austin?, Lapidus? Chevron? Other...)
2. Which Bunion surgery (method) has a larger percentage of re-occurrence of a bunion?
3. Where would you do the incision? Top or side of my foot?
4. How long would I be on crutches?
5. Have you ever had surgery on your foot?
6. Can you provide referrals from any of your patients whom you've performed this surgery?
7. If you have bunions and brachymetatarsia:
Have you ever performed both surgeries on one foot before, at the same time? How many?
8. Any mandatory medications or nutritional supplements you recommend before surgery?
9. Is pre-approval needed from my insurance company?
10. Do you have payment plans without interest? What are the details?
11. What are the top three complications with this particular bunion surgery (method)?
12. Do you do digital xrays? If yes— Can you provide them as DICOM files on CD for me? (I'd like a functional copy for my records that any doctor can review and make electronic measurements at their leisure.)
