Ciro Randazzo, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus, N.J., and a physician with IGEA Brain, Spine & Orthopedics. He is both a board-certified neurosurgeon and neuroendovascular specialist.
Dr. Randazzo treats aneurysms, spinal cord injuries, cranial and spinal tumor surgeries, general neurosurgery, and neuroendovascular procedures.
Here, Dr. Randazzo touches on how he stays on top his game as a neurosurgeon, the feat he is most proud of: tackling the opioid crisis and the future of bundled payments in spine.
Question: In such a challenging and high-pressure environment, how do you ensure that you stay on top of your game as a neurosurgeon?
Dr. Ciro Randazzo: The most important thing for a neurosurgeon is to continue to do complex and challenging cases and to stay abreast of the current scientific literature.
Q: What is one achievement you’re particularly proud of in your career?
CR:Â I am most proud of the critical role I have played as medical director in developing two comprehensive stroke centers in New Jersey at underserved hospitals.
Q: What do you see as the best tactic for battling the current opioid crisis in the U.S?
CR:Â Using alternative treatment modalities, including physical therapy, chiropractic care, and spinal cord stimulation to treat pain.
Q: What does the future hold for bundled payments in spine?
CR:Â After successful models of bundling for other surgical classes, this will also spread to spine surgery. This will lead to a reduction in the use of hardware with a return to non-fused decompression surgeries and outcome studies directly comparing implants across different manufacturers.
(Note:Â This article originally appeared in the May 29, 2019 editions of Becker’s Spine Review. To view that article, click here.)