Peter B Slabaugh, MD

I wish I could give no stars I’m currently on workman’s comp due to INJURIES SUFFERED @ WORK. 1^st of all I have been diagnosed with a bulging/​herniated disc aswell as a TEAR OF THE LABRUM OF MY RIGHT HIP.1^st of all this «Dr.» Slabaugh cancelled & rescheduled my visit 2 times. Then when I was finally scheduled to see him they call me the day before. My appointment to change the hour In which I was supposed to be there. Then he scheduled me a another appointment where I was asked to bring my MRI. Of my right hip aswell as my MRI of my spine due to bulging/​herniated disc & a tear of the labrum of my right hip. Well I showed up with all that was asked & the «Dr.» never showed up & I sat in his office for an hour & 15min. I was given a cookie cutter Dr’s note & told that the Dr. or one of his staff. Would be calling to schedule another appointment but now that the «Dr» had all my. Medical records he will be more informed & the visit should be quick & easy. However not only did he not call neither did his staff I had to call Webster orthopedic. To schedule an appointment myself after waiting for 2 weeks for someone to contact me. When I finally get in to see him he didn’t apologize for not showing up for my last appointment. Nor for not following up with me or at least call to schedule new appointment. He was very unprofessional, crass, unapologetic, rude, disrespectf­ul & was cursing during my visit. He had no compassion showed no empathy whatsoever even lied about what medical records were made available to him. Made a «professional evaluation/​findings» pertaining to me & my injuries without ever looking @ the MRI of my spine which IS ONE OF TWO REASON’S/INJURIES why I was. Sent to see him to begin with which I had brought & dropped off on March 25,2016 the day he never showed up. But yet he filed his «professional» findings on March 28, 2016 & sent out April 1^st. Now since he either never bothered to ask about what happened with his 1:40 appointment on the 25^th of March. Or his staff never relayed any information pertaining to me or my Medical records/​MRI’s which proves a lack of FOLLOW UP, PROFESSIONALISM or plain & simply neither he or his staff cares @ all whatsoever. Then before I leave I hear his staff talking about/​cracking jokes about me laughing saying how they have a nickname for me. All in all it was a HORENDOUS EXPIERIENCE I opted for another surgeon as soon as I got to my car. Made sure that whichever surgeon they recomended for me wasn’t located @ the Berkeley location. Due to his «evaluations» & poor attitude/​lack of professionalism he has delayed my surgery even further. I’ve been waiting for surgery since January when my workman’s comp secondary physician requested. It & it was approved but yet here we are approaching May & still getting the «run-​around». I went as far as filing a formal complaint about «Dr. Slabaugh» & his staff to the Manager of that Berkeley office. Bringing this to the attention of someone of authority just because he’s a Dr doesn’t mean he doesn’t answer to someone. Thanx for nothing «Dr. Slabaugh»!

My surgery was long ago-​32 years when I was 31. Dr. Slabaugh was a «second opinion» but immediately was the number one. The first physician had only done a couple surgeries and wanted me to wear a body cast, be rotated between two mattress type things, whereas Dr. Slabaugh was doing several a month, and had an internal brace set up. He was very attentive and I thought a great surgeon. My follow-​up story is a bit different.
The surgery required two overlapping rods from –can’t recall the upper number, but between shoulder blades to L3. A couple weeks in Merritt hospital, morphine and no casts or braces. I was working part time 6 months later, but did take lay-​down breaks between classes. Over the next 6 years, I had three children, all natural births, no problem. Now, the only problem is/​was, that I did break the rods during one (or two?) of the pregnancies. My back is pretty rounded now, but I have no pain. X-​rays (taken for other issues) show that there is arthritis, but as other people have written, ab exercises are mandatory!
I have recommended Dr. Slabaugh to many others and glad to hear the good reviews still coming after 30+ years.

I recently came across Pete Slabaugh in a video about yoga and scoliosis by Elise Miller. After reading Ali B’s review, I want to share my story. By the way, Ali, I have you beat in the «had the surgery with Dr. Slabaugh a long time ago» category. I am 57 currently and was directed to Pete in 1977 after a failed Harrington Rod surgery by Dr. Bryan Shieman. My original curve was 52 degrees in the thoracic lumbar area.
The important lesson I took away from this experience was to find a surgeon who has years of expertise in the area of surgery required. Do not be afraid to ask the surgeon how many surgeries they have performed of the type you require. Ask if you could speak with one of their patients who could discuss their post surgery experience. Interview several doctors and see who has the most experience and best outcomes. If a doctor is offended by your questions, then seek care elsewhere. As a nurse, I would like to qualify my previous statement with this: Many skilled surgeons have poor social skills and condescending attitudes (although many of the younger doctors are more humble with better social skills). The bottom line is that you don’t have to live with the surgeon but you do have to live with the outcome of their work. I would prefer the most up to date, skilled and experienced surgeon despite their attitude. This is not a commentary on Pete Slabaugh, but doctors in general.
Dr. Shieman was an Orthopedic surgeon but had no experience with Harrington rod surgeries. He did not refer me on to a scoliosis surgeon but instead performed the surgery himself. After approximately 8−10weeks, Dr. Shieman had my post surgery cast removed and put me in a Boston brace to «hold» my back in place while it fused, not telling me that the rods had slipped. It was an excruciating experience, both emotionally and physically. Luckily the man who made my Boston brace (thank you Tim) was aware the rods had slipped and suggested I meet with Dr. Slabaugh. At this point no one had clued me in about the slippage.
My first meeting with Dr. Slabaugh was shocking because after reviewing my xrays he explained the rods had indeed slipped and I was in a dangerous situation requiring another surgery as soon as possible. As my mom and I sat there stunned as he informed us the second surgery would be longer, more difficult and more painful than the first. The pain I experienced from bilateral pelvic bone grafting in the first surgery is difficult to describe because of its intensity. The current surgical techniques are less invasive with more progressive use of pain medications. I had to wear a body cast postoperatively which was a huge, unsightly and painful part of the recovery back in the late 70’s. I spent a year and a half in a variety of plaster and fiberglass casts from the top of my neck to the top of my legs (this requires an excellent sense of humor and humility at age 20).
I happily report that Dr. Slabaugh was wrong. The surgery Pete performed was shorter and the pain I experienced was much less severe, partly because he could use the existing bone already harvested from my illiac crests and partly due to his skill, thoughtful approach and expertise. Dr. Slabaugh was wonderful postoperatively and my family and I appreciated his quirky, dry sense of humor. I now have a daughter (no scoliosis) who is 23. My pregnancy was normal and comfortable. I power walk regularly, hike frequently and find it important to keep my core muscles strong to protect my back. I have always been thankful to Pete for such a great outcome and would recommend him wholeheartedly.

I was just looking up videos of the surgery I had, (full spinal fusion due to scoliosis of just under a 60 degree «S» curve), and came upon this poor rating, and I wanted to share my story, because it’s different.
I had my operation when I was 12, & I am 34 now. I’m living with little pain, I am able to do Yoga, ski, work a job on my feet, & will be able to have a baby one day if I choose… none of these things would have been possible without this operation. Keep in mind, this surgery is done very differently now, but I see this Dr is still working at Highland, & teaching at UCSF, so I am reviewing his bedside manner, technique & after care.
I was diagnosed with scholiosis when I was about 9 or 10 years old, and underwent a series of tests that led us to believe if I were to ware many constrictive braces over the years (at night only), and did rigorous P. T, I may stop the curve from progressing… all that was ultimately untrue and unsuccessful in stoping the progression in the end. I wish I had not had to sleep in a constrictive, sweaty, brace all those years, and endure the shame I felt from being different at slumber parties, especially when I eventually had to have the surgery anyways, but here was no way around that. *sigh*
I had a severe hunch back, that was easily disguised by clothes, but was quickly becoming noticeable & to a pre teen, this is devastating, not to mention the excruciation pain I was always in ²⁴⁄₇. My parents & Dr. opted for surgery just before we hit the 60 degree curve mark, because I was growing fast, as was my curve, so time was of the essence.
It was a 13 hour operation, which took place at UCSF. I gave 2 bodies worth of blood (b/​c I’m O-​) for several months ahead of time to reduce risk of HIV & rejection. They also did a cosmetic procedure at the same time to reduce and ultimately eliminate my hump, which was successful, but I was in the ICU after a collapse lung occurred due to the knife coming too close the lung sack. Complications were expected, & this eliminated the need for a bone graft from my hip, because they used my floating ribs which were removed as part of the cosmetic procedure instead. I had heard a hip graft is extremely painful, so this was a great solution he had for avoiding that procedure, as well as getting rid of that nasty hunch back. I was then transferred out of ICU after a short time (less than 24 hours). I had to I have 2 blood transfusions due to the lung collapse, and they inserted a chest tube, which hurts like a M. F-​er, but I was on a lot of Morphine. It’s still excruciation pain, again all expected, but not tells you that before, otherwise they would NEVER get you in there!
I was in the hospital a total of 2 wk’s, then did P. T every day. I lived in a full brace I wore for 24 hrs a day for about 1 – 2 months after surgery. Dr S. came to see me almost every day. The only thing he did which I didn’t like was that he sat next to me and said, «Hey, wanna hear a funny joke?» My 12 year old self said «yes», and he said, «You have to sit up to hear it.» So I sat up, he reached behind me & yanked out my chest tube! AHHhhh… was so pissed & was crying, mostly because it was so painful & he never told me the bloody joke, which I still think is shitty. So that’s the only way to do it I guess, like a bandaid?! Most good Doctors have almost autistic social skills or no personality, but he was very gently, funny, & friendly every other time. I imagine it’s hard for Doc’s when they see a kid in pain, so I forgive you!
In all of our experiences in talking with many, many people who did alternative therapies, some did full surgeries, some did staggered minimal surgeries to ease the discomfort & others none at all, but my outcome was the most favorable of any person we met or interviewed. All in all, a hellish experience, but Dr. S is the best. Also, my scar is barely noticeable & I get massage every week… my rods have not moved & hopefully never will. He is certainly knife happy, but only because you just can’t live a «normal» life with this condition & not do surgery. Don’t be discouraged by this last review, b/​c he really IS the best we found in our search for finding the most competent O. S in the country & we interviewed over 20 in all.
My Dr. who 1^st diagnosed & treated me was going to do my surgery in 2 operations,& we liked him a lot, but at the last min we found Peter Slabaugh & he gave us so much confidence in his skills, the plan he had for 1 surgery, not 2, the actual operation, the cosmetic procedure & the after care I would get at UCSF, so we changed our entire plan less than one year before & were glad we did, (even though we felt bad not being loyal to the kind Dr. who had seen me through the toughest times).
This is a huge decision, so in the end you have to be comfortable, but I’m living testament that this is a very good doc, maybe the best in the country. Hope this helps!

Go elsewhere. Seriously. First spine surgery was overly aggressive. Mismanaged post op. Misdiagnosed and had to be convinced to order MRI because didn’t believe there was a herniated disk. Major herniation with permanent nerve damage because of delays in second surgery. Add to that, terrible staff and miserably long delays both pre and post op. Plan on at least an hour wait.