Limited access to specialists
Patients referred to Franchir often report 12 to 18 months of waiting — sometimes longer depending on the region — before even meeting the surgeon who could operate.
Neurothérapie Montréal × Franchir — Canada fast-track to France
Fast-track spine surgery from Canada to France
Skip the 12 to 18 month Canadian wait list. Have your file reviewed in Montréal, then undergo fast-track spine surgery in France within 4 to 6 weeks — bilingual support from Québec to your return home.
Free fast-track consultation in Montréal
- Fast-track assessment by a specialist clinical nurse
- French surgeons available within 4 to 6 weeks
- End-to-end bilingual support
- Coordinated post-operative follow-up in Québec
The reality
Why is access to a spine surgeon so limited in Canada?
Canada's public system is reputable, yet a fast track to a highly specialised spine surgeon is still out of reach for many patients. Québec publishes surgical wait-list data via the MSSS; CIHI also documents pressure on elective-care access across Canada.
Complex cases deprioritised
Multi-level conditions, revisions and deformities are often postponed in favour of simpler cases. Your pain doesn't sit on a list.
Limited access to advanced techniques
Disc replacements, intra-operative 3D navigation and surgical robotics: several techniques validated in Europe remain hard to access in Canadian centres.
You deserve access to the best care available — not only to what the system can offer today.
Our network
Who are the surgeons in the Franchir network?
Franchir gives you access to a curated network of leading French neurosurgeons and orthopaedic specialists. Every case is reviewed by an independent physician before any surgical proposal.
Rigorous selection
High surgical volume (often 500+ procedures per year), full French training (minimum 11 years), active involvement in international research.
Motion-preserving techniques
Disc prostheses, minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, latest-generation implants: we favour approaches that protect your spine's natural mobility.
Independent medical review
Your file is reviewed for a second opinion before any commitment. If surgery isn't the best option, we say so plainly.
The journey
How does the Franchir pathway work?
A clear four-step fast track, run by a bilingual team. You keep your family physician in Québec — we handle the coordination with France.
Step 1
Initial assessment in Montréal
Free 45 to 60-minute appointment with our specialist clinical nurse. Review of your file, imaging, history and goals.
Step 2
Expert medical review
Within 48 hours your file is shared with a French surgeon from the network. Secure teleconsultation plus a detailed treatment plan.
Step 3
Travel and surgery in France
Full concierge: appointments, accommodation, transfers, formalities. You arrive in France with a turnkey pathway.
Step 4
Return and follow-up in Québec
Post-operative follow-up coordinated between the French surgeon and your home physician. Teleconsultations, local rehab, regular check-ins.
Comparison
How long is the wait in Québec vs France?
The public system has its strengths. But for spine surgery, the delays can compromise your recovery. Here is the difference, side by side.
Public system in Québec
Standard pathway
- 12 to 18 months of waiting before surgery
- Multiple mandatory referral steps
- Condition worsens during the wait
- Long-term palliative care and painkillers
- Little visibility on the surgery date
Franchir × Neurothérapie Montréal
Coordinated pathway
- 4 to 6 weeks from assessment to surgery
- Dedicated clinical nurse in Montréal
- Validated French expert surgeon
- Bilingual teleconsultation and follow-up
- Continuous post-op follow-up in Québec
| Criterion | Québec — public | Franchir — France |
|---|---|---|
| Typical time to surgery | Often 12–18 months (patient-reported) | 4–6 weeks after assessment |
| Entry point | Successive referrals in the public network | Free consultation in Montréal |
| Surgical expertise | Depends on regional availability | Curated high-volume French surgeons |
| Techniques (e.g. disc replacement) | Limited access by centre | Widely practised in France |
| Post-operative follow-up | Within the local network | Coordinated Québec ↔ France |
| RAMQ coverage (planned care outside Québec) | Local public care covered | Not covered; private insurance may apply |
The “12–18 months” figures reflect experience reported by patients referred to Franchir, in a context where Québec surgical wait lists are published by the MSSS and CIHI documents pressure on elective-care access in Canada. Franchir’s 4–6 week timeline is the operational calendar of the coordinated pathway, subject to medical eligibility. CIHI — Wait times for priority procedures (Canada) · Données Québec — Surgical waiting lists
World-class surgical expertise — accessible from Québec, without giving up your family physician.
Patient testimonial
L5-S1 disc replacement: Benoît's story
After months of waiting in Québec, Benoît underwent surgery in France with a Franchir surgeon. He tells the full story, from the Montréal diagnosis to his return home.
- Assessment in Montréal then surgery in France in under 8 weeks
- L5-S1 disc replacement — a motion-preserving technique rarely available in Canada
- Post-op follow-up coordinated between the French team and his Québec physician
More patient stories
Quebecers who chose the Franchir pathway share their experience.
Jean-François on his spine surgery in France: “a second chance”
Jacinthe on her husband’s fight: pain, fear, leaving for France, and a new beginning
Marcel Mazaltarim and Benoit Dubuc: looking back on spine surgery in France
Interview — The Franchir journey: a Quebec patient in Orléans, surgery that restores hope
Interview — Meeting Marcel: a Quebec patient on the eve of his upcoming surgery
Conditions we treat
What our surgeons take on
The Franchir network treats the full range of cervical and lumbar spine conditions. Every case is evaluated on its merits — surgery is never an end in itself.
Lumbar stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal causing pain, weakness or claudication while walking.
Learn more →Disc herniation & sciatica
Nerve root compression causing radiating pain into the leg or arm.
Learn more →Spondylolisthesis
Forward slip of a vertebra. Surgical stabilisation when conservative care is no longer enough.
Learn more →Cervical disc herniation
Neck pain radiating into the shoulder and arm, sometimes with numbness or weakness.
Learn more →Degenerative disc disease
Wear of one or more discs causing chronic lumbar pain. Disc replacement or fusion depending on the case.
Learn more →Scoliosis & deformities
Adult or progressive spinal deviations — complex corrections handled by dedicated specialists.
Learn more →Each condition is reviewed case by case. Only surgeons decide, after full file review, whether surgery is the right solution for you.
Financial transparency
What costs should you expect for spine surgery in France?
No hidden fees, no bad surprises. Here is how the investment is structured, step by step.
Medical file review — 700 CAD
Fixed fee covering the review of your file by an expert French surgeon plus the associated teleconsultation.
Full quote after medical validation
Surgery, hospital stay, anaesthesia, implants — everything is itemised before any commitment from your side.
Total budget often ≤ Canadian private sector
For an equivalent procedure, France + travel often comes in below Canadian private clinics.
No hidden fees
Everything is included in the quote: no last-minute surcharge, no invoice to discover upon arrival.
Private insurance often possible
Several Canadian insurers partially cover treatment abroad when public delays exceed 6 months. We help you build the case.
The full pricing detail is shared during your free Montréal consultation. No commitment before medical validation.
FAQ
What do Québec patients ask most often?
Everything Québec patients ask before starting their Franchir application.
Our medical committee only retains French neurosurgeons and orthopaedic spine specialists who handle a high annual case volume, participate actively in international research, and master motion-preserving techniques (disc prostheses, minimally invasive surgery). Every surgeon is vetted on file, clinical references and outcomes.
Start today
Reach the fast-track expertise you deserve
Three minutes to check eligibility. A free Montréal consultation to validate your file. No commitment before the French medical review.
- Expert surgical selection
- Independent medical review
- No obligation
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