Published by Commons Clinic. [Web version](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/) Reviewer names are abbreviated. Patient reviews describe individual experiences. Review counts describe source records, not unique patients or clinical outcomes; the acquired snapshot may not include complete platform histories. Clinical education and patient accounts do not replace a consultation. Spine # How to choose a spine surgeon who fits your needs The right match combines relevant experience, sound reasoning, and a conversation you can follow. Start with your problem and goals, then compare how each surgeon explains the options. Published by Commons Clinic · Updated October 20, 2026 · 5 min read [Questions to ask ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#consultation-questions) [Patient experiences ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#patient-experiences) In this guide 1. [Define the problem you need help solving](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#guide-section-1) 2. [Look for experience relevant to your condition](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#guide-section-2) 3. [Evaluate the explanation, not just the confidence](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#guide-section-3) 4. [Compare realistic alternatives](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#guide-section-4) 5. [Check the care around the operation](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#guide-section-5) 6. [Meet our spine team](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#guide-section-6) 7. [Ask about experience with your particular operation](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#guide-section-7) 8. [Choose a team that can explain the alternatives](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#guide-section-8) [Go to your consultation questions ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/#consultation-questions) ## Define the problem you need help solving You may need an explanation for persistent symptoms, a second look at an operation already recommended, or care for a complex spinal condition. Those are different starting points. Write down the question you want answered before searching for a surgeon. If you have a diagnosis, bring the records that support it. If you do not, say that clearly. Your first goal may be an assessment rather than a procedure. A useful consultation should establish what seems to be causing the symptoms, what remains uncertain, and whether a surgical problem is present before you discuss how to operate. ## Look for experience relevant to your condition Ask about training and current experience with the condition and procedure being considered. A surgeon who frequently treats one kind of spinal problem may have a different focus from one who manages another. A short list built around fit is more useful than a broad search for the "best" surgeon without defining the problem. Mayo Clinic Health System encourages discussion of a surgeon's experience and the limits of surgery. You can ask how often they perform the proposed procedure and how they evaluate results. Ask which outcomes and complications matter for people with a situation similar to yours. Sources: [Mayo Clinic Health System: Nine Questions to Ask Your Spine Surgeon](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/9-questions-to-ask-your-spine-surgeon) ## Evaluate the explanation, not just the confidence Ask the surgeon to show how the symptoms, examination, and images support the recommendation. Listen for an explanation you could repeat to a family member. Confidence is reassuring when it comes with reasons, alternatives, and an honest account of uncertainty. Try a specific question: "What makes you think this finding is the source of my leg pain, and what would make you reconsider?" Or ask which symptom the operation is least likely to help. You should not need medical training to understand why a particular plan is being recommended or how it connects to your priorities. ## Compare realistic alternatives Ask about continued nonsurgical care, different operations where appropriate, and the option of another opinion. If an approach is ruled out, ask why. Compare each realistic option using the same measures: likely benefit, important risks, recovery demands, and what happens if it does not help. A second opinion can be useful when you are unsure about the need for surgery or receive more than one reasonable option. Differences in recommendations deserve an explanation rather than an immediate contest between doctors. Ask whether the difference concerns diagnosis, timing, surgical extent, or personal preference. Those disagreements require different follow-up questions. Sources: [Keck Medicine of USC: When to Seek a Second Opinion for Spine Surgery](https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/when-to-seek-a-second-opinion-for-spine-surgery/) ## Check the care around the operation Ask who you will see before and after surgery, how questions reach the team, and where urgent concerns are handled. Clarify the surgical facility, anesthesia arrangements, insurance participation, and expected financial responsibilities. Before scheduling, make sure the visits, transport, and help at home are workable for you. Bring details about work, driving, caregiving, and help at home. Ask how these affect planning and whether another specialist needs to be involved before scheduling. If travel between Los Angeles, Long Beach, or Santa Monica is a concern, clarify the consultation and follow-up locations instead of assuming every visit occurs in the same place. ## Meet our spine team At Commons Clinic, our spine surgeons bring different clinical interests, including disc replacement, decompression, fusion, and deformity care. Dr. Hyun Bae, Dr. Sanjay Khurana, and Dr. Amandeep Bhalla are among the clinicians whose profiles you can explore when building your list. Patient stories can give you a sense of the conversation and support people experienced. Look for the qualities you value, such as patience with questions or explanations that made a difficult choice easier. Then bring those priorities to your own visit. Ask for time to understand the recommendation and discuss the tradeoffs. The most useful match is a clinician with relevant expertise and a plan that fits your problem, your life, and your goals. ## Ask about experience with your particular operation The American College of Surgeons recommends discussing a surgeon’s qualifications, experience with the proposed operation, complications, and the facility where it will be performed. Make those questions specific to your diagnosis and procedure. Ask how often the surgeon treats comparable problems and how they discuss results that fall short of expectations. If someone quotes a success rate, ask what success means and when it was measured. This gives you more useful information than a reputation, a technology label, or a review score by itself. Sources: [Questions to Ask before Having an Operation](https://www.facs.org/for-patients/surgery-faq/10-questions/) ## Choose a team that can explain the alternatives Johns Hopkins describes both nonsurgical care and several surgical approaches within spine treatment. Ask the physician how they decide when rehabilitation, pain care, or another assessment deserves more time, and what would make surgery appropriate. Also discuss who coordinates the pieces around an operation: medical preparation, anesthesia, rehabilitation, and follow-up. A helpful consultation connects the proposed procedure with your main concern and explains the options left open. You should feel able to raise uncertainty and return with questions before making an elective decision. Sources: [Back and Spine Surgery](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/back-spine-surgery) Make the most of your visit ## Questions to bring to your consultation Choose the questions that matter most to you. Bring them along, and ask us to explain anything that is unclear. - Do you regularly treat my condition and perform the proposed procedure? - How do the examination and imaging support the recommendation? - What symptoms might the operation leave unchanged? - What reasonable nonsurgical or surgical alternatives should I compare? - What is the risk of waiting, and how would we monitor that? - How do you assess results and complications in similar patients? - Who handles questions and unexpected problems after treatment? - Would another opinion help clarify the diagnosis, timing, or extent of surgery? - How do you define and track success for patients having this exact operation? - What finding would make you recommend more nonsurgical care or another assessment? - Who coordinates preparation and follow-up if more than one specialist is involved? ## Sources & further reading - [Mayo Clinic Health System: Nine Questions to Ask Your Spine Surgeon](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/9-questions-to-ask-your-spine-surgeon) - [Keck Medicine of USC: When to Seek a Second Opinion for Spine Surgery](https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/when-to-seek-a-second-opinion-for-spine-surgery/) - [Questions to Ask before Having an Operation](https://www.facs.org/for-patients/surgery-faq/10-questions/) American College of Surgeons - [Back and Spine Surgery](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/back-spine-surgery) Johns Hopkins Medicine We use these medical sources to help explain your options and prepare you for a conversation with our team. Our guides feature our own clinicians; patient reviews describe individual experiences. [Read as Markdown](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-spine-surgeon/index.md) Meet our team ## People behind your care. [**Hyun Bae, MD** Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/hyun-bae-md/) [More about Hyun Bae ↗](https://commonsclinic.com/physicians/hyun-bae-md/) [**Sanjay Khurana, MD** Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/sanjay-khurana-md/) [More about Sanjay Khurana ↗](https://commonsclinic.com/physicians/sanjay-khurana-m-d/) [**Amandeep Bhalla, MD** Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/amandeep-bhalla-md/) [More about Amandeep Bhalla ↗](https://commonsclinic.com/physicians/amandeep-bhalla-m-d/) Explore our clinicians, then talk with us about your symptoms, goals, and the care you need. Patient experiences ## Experiences, *in their words.* Hear from patients about our clinicians, the conversations they had, and the support they received. Excerpt > he clearly explained my options without making me feel rushed or pressured. A. alijani Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: October 6, 2026 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/109146127957742399300/place/ChIJSdGvF0q7woARopa4Y6gfPO4) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Hyun Bae, MD On the care experience: This reviewer describes understandable options and feeling unpressured during the consultation. Excerpt > He suffered two serious collisions and has had a 16 year history of back issues . P. Frausto Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: September 4, 2026 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/113854051790915732086/place/ChIJCTVQzX26woARV5EyXoh3nDU) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Sanjay Khurana, MD Patient account of spine care. Excerpt > Scheduled spinal surgery with Dr. Khurana J. bancroft Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: August 14, 2026 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/110769470218052596292/place/ChIJCTVQzX26woARV5EyXoh3nDU) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Sanjay Khurana, MD Patient account of spine care. Excerpt > Dr. Bhalla did my back surger 7 years ago and I still feel great. B. henry Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: July 25, 2026 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/111854808904625582481/place/ChIJ8YAf0pAz3YARGxtBH2uG-xA) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Amandeep Bhalla, MD Patient account of spine care. Excerpt > I’m referring patients to him he just really is the spine expert…. N. Rish Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: July 24, 2026 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/104064009525988093275/place/ChIJSdGvF0q7woARopa4Y6gfPO4) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Hyun Bae, MD Patient account of spine care. Excerpt > He listens to understand, is patient, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable about spinal diseases. N. schenker Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: July 16, 2026 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/100189104386458296821/place/ChIJ8YAf0pAz3YARGxtBH2uG-xA) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Amandeep Bhalla, MD Patient account of spine care. Keep exploring ## Your next *good question.* More guidance to help you understand your options and plan your next step. Choosing your care ### [Who is the best orthopedic physician for your problem? Start with fit](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-orthopedic-physician-best-fit/) The right orthopedic physician starts with your problem, your goals, and a clear explanation of the choices. Use expertise, communication, and access together when making your decision. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-orthopedic-physician-best-fit/) Sports medicine ### [Choosing a sports medicine physician for your injury and goals](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-a-sports-medicine-physician/) The right fit combines relevant expertise, a clear explanation and a plan for the activity you want to regain. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-a-sports-medicine-physician/) Physical therapy ### [How to choose a physical therapist for your goals](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-physical-therapist/) The right physical therapist understands what you want to do, measures where you are starting, and helps you use a plan outside the clinic. Ask about experience, progress, and the practical details of visits. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/choosing-physical-therapist/) Meet the clinicians ## Explore your *next conversation.* [![Hyun Bae, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/assets/hyun-bae-md.jpg)](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/hyun-bae-md/) Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine ### [Hyun Bae, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/hyun-bae-md/) Santa Monica [Meet Hyun Bae](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/hyun-bae-md/) [![Sanjay Khurana, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/assets/sanjay-khurana-m-d.jpg)](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/sanjay-khurana-md/) Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine ### [Sanjay Khurana, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/sanjay-khurana-md/) Marina del Rey · Santa Monica [Meet Sanjay Khurana](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/sanjay-khurana-md/) [![Amandeep Bhalla, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/assets/amandeep-bhalla-m-d.jpg)](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/amandeep-bhalla-md/) Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine ### [Amandeep Bhalla, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/amandeep-bhalla-md/) Long Beach – Bixby Knolls [Meet Amandeep Bhalla](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/amandeep-bhalla-md/) ## Publisher & attribution Commons Clinic Reviews is operated by Commons Clinic. 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