Mr Russo provides independent opinions for patients across the United Kingdom and internationally, including for colleagues in other specialties and for patients whose surgeons have referred them for a second view.
Spinal surgery is elective in the great majority of cases. Before consenting to an irreversible procedure, an independent review of whether it is necessary, and whether a lesser operation would do, is reasonable diligence.
Fusion is appropriate for instability and over-used for degeneration. Mr Russo will assess whether your standing and dynamic imaging genuinely demonstrates the instability that would justify it.
Where symptoms and imaging do not correspond, the diagnosis is often wrong. Hip pathology, peripheral neuropathy and sacroiliac dysfunction are all regularly mislabelled as spinal.
Persistent or recurrent symptoms after spinal surgery need a structured re-evaluation: wrong level, incomplete decompression, recurrence, non-union or adjacent-segment disease each have a different answer.
Complex deformity, revision cases and tumour-related pain are frequently treatable by surgeons who manage them routinely. A second look costs one appointment.
A second opinion that confirms the original recommendation is not a wasted appointment, it is the reassurance that lets you proceed with confidence.
Imaging, clinic letters and operation notes are uploaded to a secure encrypted portal, or posted on disc. Mr Russo’s secretary will request anything missing directly from your provider.
Every scan is reviewed personally by Mr Russo, on the original images rather than the report alone. Where the report and the images disagree, a specialist neuroradiology opinion is obtained.
In person at Harley Street or by secure video for international patients. The examination is repeated from first principles rather than accepting previous findings.
A detailed letter setting out the diagnosis, whether the proposed treatment is indicated, the alternatives, the risks and the expected outcome of each course — including doing nothing.
You are under no obligation to transfer your care. Many patients return to their original surgeon reassured; the opinion is written so that it is useful to them either way.
Many patients return to their original surgeon reassured, and the written opinion is prepared so that it is genuinely useful to them. Where Mr Russo disagrees with the proposed plan, he will say so, and explain precisely why.
International patients are seen by secure video after remote imaging review
Only with your consent. Many patients prefer the opinion to be shared, since it supports a constructive conversation; others prefer it kept entirely confidential. The choice is yours.
Yes — the original images, not just the report. Mr Russo reviews the imaging himself, and a great deal of clinically relevant detail is not captured in a written report.
Yes. International and out-of-region patients are seen by secure video after remote imaging review. A physical examination is arranged if surgery becomes a serious consideration.
