Spine Surgery

Spine surgery is traditionally done as "open surgery," meaning the area being operated on is opened with a long incision to allow the surgeon to view and access the anatomy. In recent years, however, technological advances have allowed more back and neck conditions to be treated with a minimally invasive surgical technique.Because minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), does not involve a long incision, it avoids significant damage to the muscles surrounding the spine. In most cases, this results in less pain after surgery and a faster recovery.

Spine surgery is typically recommended only when a period of nonsurgical treatment — such as medications and physical therapy — has not relieved the painful symptoms caused by your back problem. In addition, surgery is only considered if your doctor can pinpoint the exact source of your pain, such as a herniated disk or spinal stenosis. Minimally invasive techniques are beginning to be used for a wider range of spine procedures, and have been used for common procedures like decompression and spinal fusion since the 1990s. Decompression relieves pressure put on spinal nerves by removing portions of bone or a herniated disk. Spinal fusion corrects problems with the small bones of the spine (vertebrae). The basic idea is to fuse together the painful vertebrae so that they heal into a single, solid bone. This article focuses on decompression and fusion with a minimally invasive technique.

There is a rapid increase in technology that allows the MIS physician to treat patients with minimally invasive spine surgery procedures. Some of these techniques are now well established, while others remain new and continue to evolve. The best MIS (Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery) technique will depend on the specific character of the problem. While the list of MIS (Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery) techniques continues to expand, the most commonly employed today include:

• Minimally Invasive Tubular Microdiscetomy

• Minimally Invasive Lumbar Laminectomy

• Cervical laminoforaminotomy

• Endoscopic Discectomy

• Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Interbody Lumbar Fusion (TILF)

• Minimally Invasive eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)

• Microsurgical Discectomy

• Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)

• Kyphoplasty

• Nucleoplasty or Percutaneous Discectomy

Minimal Invasive Spine surgery comes with more benefice than invasive spine surgery.

• Less scar tissue is created thereby not leaving the patient to recover with huge and ugly scar marks.

• Pain associated with this procedure is effectively less severe as small incisions are made. Also less soft tissues are damaged.

• Less blood is lost and therefore the patients don’t have to be at a medication for long periods of time

• Procedure is more accurate and leaves the patient with better results.

• The cost for such a surgery is quite lesser as compared to an Invasive Spinal surgery.

Candidates

People with back pain, numbness or weakness in upper or lower limbs who are not responding to non surgical treatments like pain killers, non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy can consider surgery. They need further investigations like X-ray/ CT scan/ MRI to confirm bulging or protruding disc which can be corrected by surgery. Surgery for herniated disc should be considered emergency if there are symptoms of pressure on the spinal cord or on the cauda equine or cases involving serious or increasing paralysis

Expected Results

The results of herniated disc surgery are good. A successful surgery relieves the symptoms of herniated or slipped disc in up to about 90% of the patients.

Recovery

Recovery is different for each patient. However, it is normal to feel pain at the site of surgery for the first few days which can be controlled with medication. You would be advised to start physical therapy after a week of the surgery for rehabilitation. You would be able to return to normal activities in about two weeks while full recovery may take few weeks to months. Your treating surgeon would advise you about the rehabilitation and when to start rigorous activities.

• Dedicated team of internationally trained and experienced spine surgeons, rheumatologists, neurologist, physicians and physiotherapist.

• Latest generation diagnostic and imaging facilities including dynamic digital X-rays, spiral CT scanning , MRI and electrophysiology unit all under one roof.

• 1500 case of spine surgery and also brain tumors, head surgeries and pediatric problems

• Specializes in surgery without blood transfusion

• Special expertise in treating patients with scoliosis (curved spine)

• Special expertise in treating patients with scoliosis (curved spine)

• Treated nearly 600 patients from middle east, Africa, Bangladesh, US, UK and Canada

• Doctors trained in Switzerland and Germany in minimally invasive endoscopic neurosurgery and skull base reconstructions

You may want to ask some questions before your treatment begins:

Am I a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery?

The field of minimally invasive spine surgery continues to grow. Most surgeries today can be treated with some aspect of minimally invasive surgery. However, there are certain conditions that require standard open treatment, such as high-degree scoliosis, tumors and some infections. The best options should be individualized to the patient’s diagnosis and overall patient condition.

Is minimally invasive spine surgery experimental?

No. MISS has been used sucessfully for many years. However, the scope, complexity and procedures available continue to evolve at a rapid rate

When is surgery necessary for patients with spine problems?

India has not one but many better than the best hospitals for Spine r treatment. Mail us your medical report and we will find the hospital most suitable to treat your medical condition.

What are the benefits of getting Spine Surgery in India?

Spine Hospitals in India are equipped with the most advanced medical treatment. They have the most extensive Spine -diagnostic and imaging facilities including Asia’s most advanced MRI and X-rays technology. Personalized care and attention is provided with value added services besides results of world class standard at a very low cost affordable to all sections of society.

Which is the Best Hospital in India for treatment of Spine?

Surgery for conditions associated with disc disease is necessary when patients continue to be symptomatic despite all conservative treatments. Generally, patients try conservative treatments for between 2 and 6 months. If after this trial of conservative treatment patients continue to have severe pain, surgery is an excellent option. Surgery becomes "necessary" when patients develop signs and symptoms of progressive nerve damage ie, increasing muscle weakness or worsening nerve damage.

Is it safe to get Spine Treatment and Surgery in India?

The medical fraternity in India is famed for excellence, and leads in Spine surgeries. Thousands of Spine operations are performed in India each year with maximum success rate, making the safety obvious.