Dr. Christopher R Tomaras, MD

My son had a microsdiscectomy for a far lateral disc herniation at L4/L5 by Dr. Tomaras and is worse off than he was before the surgery. This has caused him and his family a tremendous amount of pain and anguish due to Dr. Tomaras failure to properly perform the surgery with the right approach. He got another MRI five weeks after surgery which showed residual herniation that was not completely removed as well as a new herniation. Dr Tomaras elected to go with a midline approach which involved removing a fair amount of my facet joint and the proper approach confirmed by studies and three other neurosurgeons is to go the lateral approach. I am writing this as a warning for future patients to please get a second opinion before considering surgery with Dr Tomaras.

I had a microsdiscectomy for a far lateral disc herniation at L4/L5 by Dr. Tamaras and I am worse off than I was before the surgery. I got another MRI five weeks after surgery which showed residual herniation that was not completely removed. Dr Tomaras elected to go with a midline approach which involved removing a fair amount of my facet joint. After consulting with two other neurosurgeons, the proper route would have been to go lateral. This would have preserved my facet joint and the herniation would have been much easier to get to. I realize there are multiple ways to approach different things but when two other neurosurgeons say "you have a direct path to the herniation going laterally and you would not have to sacrifice the facet joint”,  and “it would be very hard to get to the herniation with a midline approach”, I cannot wrack my brain as to why he would even consider not going the lateral route. From what I understand, the only reason a surgeon usually goes medial is they… don’t feel comfortable anatomically going lateral because lateral herniations are not very common. If that is the case then I should have been referred to someone who did feel comfortable. The only other reason to do this is from a reimbursement standpoint as I would need another surgery. I would surely hope this was not the case. Hopefully it is a lesson learned for future cases as I am now in the same place I was before the surgery with a less stable spine and now I am having to have another microdiscetomy via the lateral approach to remove what should have been removed with the first surgery. This would mean another three months in which I cannot pick up my children and more days off of work. I am a firm believer in treating patients how you would treat yourself or a family member. I wonder if he would have done everything the same had this been one of his family members. I would highly advise getting a second opinion before surgery as this is the mistake I made.

From the moment I first called Doctor Tomaras the experience was superb. From Nikki, Casey, Michelle, Donna and John, Doctor Tomaras has assembled a first rate team to compliment his expert skills as a neurosurgeon. Doctor Tomaras reviewed my symptoms, analyzed appropriate records and scans and thoroughly discussed options to return my best quality of life. Making a decision on spine surgery is stressful but it eases as much as possible when that trust and admiration takes shape with the doctor. I surely credit Doctor Tomaras for that. My surgery was 100% successful and afterwards I received welcome phone calls from the team to check on me. As I wrap up my thoughts, I felt I would save the best for last. My next door neighbor is a doctor and I asked him to recommend a neurosurgeon. He went to the hospital he works at and separately asked two colleagues who they would use for spine surgery if they needed it. Both said Dr. Tomaras!

Even though I didn't need surgery, I am so impressed with the level of care and compassion I got here. I am happy that Dr. Tomaras was honest and didn't just want to cut on me. I felt like he and John (his assistant) cared about me.

Since day one he has taken care of me. He has told me everything that needed to be done. He told me I would be superman again and he has done just that!

Dr. Tomaras and John are awesome! I trust them and my surgery went great.

I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Dr. Tomaras and his entire staff provided an excellent experience.

I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Dr. Tomaras and his entire staff provided an excellent experience.

I think he is the very BEST!!! The first time i saw him as soon as I woke up my pain was gone. a few years later I had another problem with my back and came strait back to him. he had to do a fusion and no one could believe how quickley I was well. I would advise anyone that needed a neurosurgeon to see him.

Since day one he has taken care of me. He has told me everything that needed to be done. He told me I would be superman again and he has done just that!