About Curtis J. Edwards, MD, FACS Expertise I am a senior FAA aerospace medical examiner and can answer the majority of questions regrading medical certification for pilots.
Experience Senior AME with the FAA, physician and surgeon for twenty-two years.
Organizations Civil Aviation Medical Assoc., Aerospace Medical Assoc, College of Surgeons, AMA
Education/Credentials BA- UCSB, MD-U. WASH., General Surgery- Univ. Oklahoma.
Question I was diagnosed with Brown-Sequard syndrome, in which spinal stenosis places
pressure on the spinal cord, resulting in decreased sensation in various parts of
the body. This syndrome was arrested by means of a cervical laminectomy on
c1-c6. Some symptoms have resolved, and there are no complications from the
surgery. Is there any reason to expect this surgery to result in denial of a second
class medical?
Answer You will be required to complete a certification physical. If you have significant range of motion or neurological abnormalities, FAA may require submission of an evaluation by a physiatrist, orthopedist and/or neurologist. They may also want to see the old records. If you are able to satisfy the FAA that your have enough range of motion, situational awareness and pass a second class physical you should receive a certificate. They might require a medical flight test, even after all the data is in, I can't tell you more based on the limited history.
