I am not afraid to try to advance. I don’t accept the status quo. I think we can do better. I do not accept historical mantra. That’s why some older surgeons, to be honest, don’t like me and don’t agree with my approach. I don’t mind being challenged – at all.

We should always be critical of our own work and results – and I am my own biggest critic.

That said, surgeons who haven’t changed techniques for the last 20+ years are living in the past. Is a 2000 model car as safe as a 2024??

So what are these out of touch surgeons doing providing contemporary opinions eg. medicolegal when they don’t even understand modern neuromonitoring?

Patients are fearful of  for good reasons. Historical results have not always been great. I am part of that – and older surgeons who maintain it was best “back in the day” are an even bigger part of that. We need to demonstrate data driven results. We need to be using wearable technology () and advancing techniques that minimize surgical approach related trauma whilst minimizing re-operations in the long term.

I see many excellent older surgeons mentoring, teaching and still learning new techniques. This is not about age – it’s about ability to recognize the benefits of new techniques and not just say something is “crazy” because it is new. Remember that the description of thoracic pedicle screws was extremely controversial at the time…. ()

My former fellows have my permission to put me out to pasture if I ever start being the guy who says “NO” to everything innovative.

Rant over. Thanks for reading to here if you made it!