Dr. Brett Gunter, MD

If you're referred here for treatment under workers comp, just know - Dr. Gunter is not looking out for your best interest. Dr Gunter tends to favor the system. Be aware!

Dr G saved me in 2009 when no other surgeon would. I had had 20 yrs of lumbar surgeries before that but needed another. He also saved my partner when he had a bad accident and needed cervical and lumbar spinal surgery. We wouldn’t go to anyone else!! He’s the best and so compassionate (and funny)! Wish he was still at Lexingyon though.

My 95 year old mother has been sitting in his waiting room for OVER an hour and a half. Absolutely unprofessional! Arrogant. Does not answer questions

Dr Gunter MUSC NEUROSURGEON has given me the upmost care during my recent experience at MUSC, COLUMBIA,SC! MAURIO, Dr. Gunter's Physician Assistant is Absolutely the greatest at his job and, it shows! This Great Team replaced my Stimulator and, I am very grateful for the care and, the treatment I received from the MUSC, COLUMBIA,SC Facility! Maurio, called me the day before my Surgery appointment and, his attitude was Extremely Positive! I am very pleased with the treatment I received from both the Hospital and MUSC NEUROSURGERY! I would highly recommend this Facility for the treatment and, the Hospital Staffing! Dr. Gunter's Office staff was absolutely amazing at getting the job done accordingly and, quickly! Wait time was at a minimal and, everything was explained to me without any incident! I highly recommend this Facility for your needs for any type of Neurosurgery!

The other reviews are exactly right. Waiting room is bizarre. More patients than chairs, people yelling that they have waited 2-3 hours, no communication from staff about this on arrival. We drove to Columbia from out of town. When we were told it would be another hour at least after 2 hours we had to leave to get a child from school. An entire wasted day that Dr Gunter is responsible for.

I was referred by one of my doctors. Almost a month went by and no one called so I contacted them for an appointment. I have severe back problems but waiting over an hour and a half in their hard waiting room chair was too much. I now could hardly walk. The woman next to me had been waiting over two hours. This is no way to treat folks and I cancelled my appointment. I will find a doctor who is a little more caring.

Many years ago, I had two procedures done by Dr. Gunter with which I was completely satisfied in all aspects of my care. The man and the office I visited today were a far cry from the services I received many years ago. Dr. Gunter now works for MUSC (a teaching hospital) and I'm sure his 32 years of experience have great value to medical professionals. But if they adopt his lack of consideration for patient's time and medical evaluation, his students will degrade this profession to a level where people they treat will have no real value other than reaping payments from their insurance provider. The staff, although friendly, clearly didn’t have any issue stacking the waiting room with people knowing full well their waits would range from two to three hours. As I waited, a very disabled man entered around 11:30am using a walker ambled up to the front desk and asked why no one called to let him know about the excessive wait time. The response was a cold and straight-faced lie where the receptionist had the audacity to say that this just happened, and the man had to cancel his appointment and then slowly depart as he had another scheduled appointment he'd have to miss if he waited for two to three hours. Then insult to injury, his rescheduling was several weeks later which should have never been the case as the issue was completely the fault of the scheduling of patients which he has no control over. For me, I had a mid-morning appointment, and upon arriving 15 minutes early as instructed, the waiting room was full to the point where there was only 1 chair available, and the waiting room has about 25-30 seats. There were also people waiting outside in the hallway. Now, after my three-hour wait, Dr. Gunter walked into the exam room and just scrolled through the MRI I brought with me. He uttered a few medical terms contained in the report and asked me if I had received any pain management and physical therapy. All reasonable questions and the logical sequence prior to any surgery. I told him no and advised him I had an upcoming hip replacement surgery. I told him I’d need to wait until after that procedure since it’s close and a cortisone shot would require me to delay that surgery. I explained to him that I had had a car accident and since then my right leg had pain down to my knee calf and ankle, but it appeared to fluctuate with the pain I was having in my groin associated with the right hip. He seemed to fixate on the right leg and completely ignored the issues I was having in my back, buttocks and hamstrings in both legs which brought me to him in the first place. His verbal report into the computer seems to focus on the right leg and hip so when asked if he could tell me in layman's terms what the MRI report says, he again uttered a few medical terms and said I already gave you that information and proceeded to stand and leave the exam room. He stated I should make an appointment when the orthopedic surgeon clears me from the hip surgery to have an injection of cortisone. I then asked, do I have to make an appointment or can I just call in to schedule the cortisone shot. He then said, OK to just calling versus waiting another three hours just to schedule a cortisone shot. I asked him if I could take the imaging disk (MRI) with me, and he said he’d send someone into the room and left. I had approximately 5 minutes with Dr. Gunter after a three-hour wait, atrocious is an understatement as he clearly had no desire to discuss my situation nor explain to me what was in the report in a way you would explain it to someone without a medical degree. I know in one location of the MRI report, the word severe was used which I understand completely but again Dr. Gunter couldn't be bothered explaining the report to me in a way I completely understood the findings from the MRI and the conditions that exist in my lower back. Prior to getting in to see Dr. Gunter, I went to the receptionist to see if delays like this were common. After a few questions, she left to get her supervisor. Her supervisor, Denise, escorted me to her office where we discussed the long delay, and she presented her case as to why that was happening. I didn’t make any arguments and just shared my concerns and went back to the waiting room. I don’t know if my forward approach to questioning the delay had any impact on the behavior I received today or not and won’t speculate either way. What I will say is that I was very calm and professional in my approach to this concern and if those questions had any bearing on this unprofessional visit, the problem rests with this practice. Again, this is a teaching hospital and practice “so what does this experience teach anyone that is positive”? I suspect this won't have any impact on his behavior nor that of his office but as this is supposed to be a teaching hospital, MUSC should evaluate their current practice to see what exactly this office is teaching up and coming medical professionals. I hope others will read this and realize there are other neurosurgeons in Columbia that are very skilled and considerate of their patient’s time and diagnosis. I'd only recommend this practice as an absolute last resort. Upon leaving from my 5-minute discussion, the waiting was just as packed as it was when I arrived 3+ hours earlier with people in the hallway as well.

He did back surgery on my L4-L5. I have had NO more back pain since 2015. Excellent surgeon.

Dr Gunter is outstanding Surgeon that is on the cutting edge of new scientific and procedural techniques, in October 2018 he did my cervical surgery with Titanium cage. Basically saved my life and improved my future quality of life. He is a great doctor and I would recommend him to anyone who needs his expert interventions and Care. 5 stars

I had si joint surgery last week on the 16th .I am doing just fine. Not taking any med. after 2 days at home. My scoliosis is gone and I am a little sore where I have the incisions. Got to go for my checkup tomorrow on the 22nd. I give him 5 stars. He knows what he is doing. I recommend him to everyone.

I don't know anything about his acumen as a neurosurgeon, but his professionalism and care as a doctor could use some work. I asked several questions about concerns with numbness in legs/back and was given platitudes on head trauma without any plan or even seeming interest in pursuing the issue further. Instead he started a 5+ minute conversation about the car market and how it sucks that supply chains are wrecked. Definitely not something I want to talk about when I'm seeing a doctor for some legitimate concerns in getting my body back together. He just didn't seem like he listened to my concerns attentively, and didn't address most of them with what would be considered an adequate amount of thoroughness.

I received excellent care from Dr Gunter and would not ever consider another neurosurgeon.

Dr Gunter may be a good doctor. First appt was easy to schedule. He didnt really want to talk, was really rushed, quick to prescribe opiates. Follow up appointmemts not possible to schedule. Repeated calls and messages through MyChart, never a reply.

Dr Gunter is unprofessional & rude. I would not recommend to anyone. I knew from my first visit that if I ever had to have surgery he would not be my surgeon . He asked me when I had my MRI & I responded that I did not know the exact date. He told me "well, it's your health and you should know" which is true but he was at the computer where the complete results of the MRI were in"my chart." Took 30 seconds or less to find. Once he found it he did offer suggestions, one was surgery. I told him I would prefer not to have surgery to which he responded "don't come back if you don't want surgery because that's what I do." He also spent part of my appointment time telling a staff member that he would not be in the office in 2 days and that if there were surgeries scheduled then she needed to reschedule them because he assured her he would NOT be there. I know I would not want a surgeon that would delay my surgery at the last minute for an impromptu vacation. No compassion at all.

Not very well

He is the rudest doctor I've had the displeasure of dealing with. His assistants are pleasant, but he is arrogant and rude. It is also plain that he absolutely does not care. The last two visits I've had to wait for two hours to be seen on top of his trying to rush and bully me into answers that were his and not my own. I would never recommend him.

Disk replacement in neck

I had a surgery last February 2019 and recently had a second surgery on July 13. I would not trust anyone else to do my surgeries he’s honest and tells you his opinion. I have never had any issues everyone at this office has treated me with respect and excellent care. If I message thru my chart they always respond pretty quickly his PA Andrew is also one of my favorites to they have treated me very good and I would advise anyone needing spinal surgery to make sure you have someone you trust. I trust Dr. Gunter and Andrew 100%. You know he’s good when another doctor you have had his surgery there also and recommended him that says a lot!! Love all of them here and will not go anywhere else.. If could rate him 100 stars I definitely would

Dr. Gunter, was one of the sugents when i had a car accident in 2000 and did my back surgery and im very thankfull with him because if it wasn't for him and his magic hands i would bee in a wheelchair and gladly i'm walking and doing a normal life, THANK YOU DOCTOR GUNTER

Dr. Gunter replaced two discs in my neck. The surgery eliminated all of my pain and restored total range of motion. I would start with him if you’re considering neck or spine surgery.