Dr. Pablo Clavel -- Barcelona Spine Center (Spain)

[Justin]

The Barcelona Spine Clinic is set up to be contacted through Healthbase.com. You can do one of two things; 1)Go to healthbase.com and fill out their online form (which I recommend, because you may be exposed to alternatives that you like better than the one I chose), or 2)call them directly at 617-658-1401 and speak to Moe.

To contact Barcelona directly (they might refer you back to Healthbase), email Miss Doutsen Jager at:

assist (at) bcn-sc (dot) com

Doutsen is fluent in Dutch, Castellian Spanish and English.

My two level cervical surgery with two M6's cost $27533. Another individual that went there right after I did for a single level M6 paid $17000; so I guess it's an additional $10000 per cervical level? I don't know what the cost is for lumbar, but do know that that surgery is much more complex and the recovery is much longer.

Concerning costs ... I was in Germany in 2006 and 2007, and the costs in Spain (hotel, food, transportation, etc...) are probably three fifths what they are in Germany. Oddly, in both countries it is cheaper to order beer in a restaurant than it is to order water.

While I have thus far had a very positive outcome with Dr Clavel, please be aware that even though he has eminent credentials, he has only a fraction of the experience that the Germans do at Stenum. We've both read stories of how Stenum has had both success and failure with cases as extensive as yours. I don't know if Dr Clavel has any experience with five levels in a single patient. If you do pursue the Barcelona option, I would encourage you to question him thoroughly on his experience with very complex cases such as yours.

Barcelona Spine Center
Office: Independencia 384-386, Entlo. Desp 6
08041 Barcelona
Phone +34 934 507 598
Fax +34 934 565 809
info (at) bcn-sc (dot) com

Barcelona Spine Center Website

[Researcher]

I contacted Dr. Clavel's office yesterday as part of my ongoing search for the best solution to my DDD. Their reply is copied below.

Thanks,

Phil

Email from Dr. Clavel's office on 9/14/10

Dear Philip,
Currently Dr. Clavel is out for a couple of weeks.
I’ll try to answer your questions:
Dr. Clavel usually uses two kind of implants that have shown best clinical results: M6 and Prestige. His experience with both implants: he has implanted over 200 cervical prosthesis.
I hope this answers your questions.

Regards,


Dr. V. Gilete
MD, Neurosurgeon,
Co-Director Barcelona Spine Center

[Researcher]

I just received an additional reply to my questions directly from Dr. Clavel. It contains different information than his associates previously provided. His email is copied below.

Phil

*********************
Email from Dr. Pablo Clavel dated 9/21/2010

Hello Phillip,

I prefer the M6 cervical.
I have implanted over 500 cervical ADRs

Let us know if you want to have more information or if you would like for us to send you a quote.

Best regards,

Dr. Clavel
*********************

[JPJH]

Phil,

I just had (10.13.10) a 2 level Cervical ADR using the M-6 with Dr. Clavel and Dr Gilete assisted him. I can assure you these Dr.'s are the real deal. You would mainly deal directly with Dr. Clavel and I know he was on holiday most of September. Other than that the guy works non-stop. I would reply to him and ask him directly to clarify his information from Dr. Gilete's. I'm sure he'll clear it up. I had done two years of research myself and checked Germany, India, Spain and England and it was not uncommon to get different stories depending on who you talked with in the office.

I ultimately chose Dr. Clavel as I had talked with others from the U.S and England who had had great outcomes with him. Our emails and conversations prior to going over were very productive and he understodd what I was looking for and he was honest and gave me a realistic outcome. The cost was less than Germany or England. I paid 27K for my two level. Germany was around 40K and England was 34K. The Quiron Hospital was top notch. It's only 3-4 years old and has all the best equiptment. Plus to be honest after looking at all the other places I could have gone Barcelona just seemed like a great place to be and it was. My wife and I enjoyed being there and actually had a great vacation considering I went over to have surgery. I would be happy to answer any other questions you might have about Dr. Clavel and my experinece in Barcelona.

JPJH