Situation: An employee with a history of low back pain and previous spine surgery faced ongoing symptoms from a recurrent disc herniation and spinal stenosis. Their local surgeon recommended a significant spinal fusion (TLIF), leaving the member uncertain whether or not to proceed with this invasive procedure. 

 How Summus Helped: Summus first connected the employee with a Summus physician for an initial review. Recognizing the complexity, an expert consultation was swiftly arranged with Dr. Peter G. Whang, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Whang thoroughly reviewed the member's case and discussed the proposed TLIF versus a less invasive procedure (endoscopic foraminotomy/discectomy), clearly explaining the risks and benefits of each. He noted the less invasive option could address the radiating leg pain with a quicker recovery and wouldn't preclude a future fusion if necessary. 

Impact & Empowered Decision-Making: The expert consultation with Dr. Whang provided the member with crucial clarity and a much deeper understanding of their condition. Dr. Whang detailed less invasive surgical alternatives to the initially proposed major fusion, highlighting their potential for lower risks and faster recovery times. They built a plan together to have a consultation with a colleague of the treating surgeon who specializes in these minimally invasive techniques, providing a legitimate pathway to explore these less burdensome options. This experience, including the seamless support from the Summus team, not only answered all of their questions but also equipped them with actionable next steps and strong confidence to pursue the most appropriate treatment for their spine.