Spine Surgery

What is spine care?

Focusing mainly on treating spine conditions, this speciality includes an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to manage disorders related to the neck and back. This includes a full range of treatment options — including medication, physical therapy and interventional pain management or even surgery, depending on the severity of the condition.

What are the causes / indications?

Back surgery might be needed

• If you have a condition that compresses your spinal nerves, causing debilitating back pain or numbness along the back of your leg.
• In some instances when you have bulging or ruptured (herniated) disks — the rubbery cushions separating the bones in your spine. However, many people with bulging disks have no pain.
• If you have broken bones (fractured vertebrae) or other damage to your spinal column from an injury that leaves your spine unstable.
• If you have vertebral fractures and an unstable spine related to osteoporosis.
• If you've first tried conservative measures and they fail to relieve your back pain or other symptoms.

Benefits :

The primary reason for most back surgeries is to get relief from back pain. And for many people, the result is less pain. Less pain comes with many additional benefits, including:

But not everyone experiences a reduction in back pain after surgery. Studies show it’s difficult for surgeons to accurately predict who will benefit and who won’t. For this reason, and because most back pain improves with time, experts recommend trying non-surgical treatments like physical therapy before considering back surgery.

• Increased activity
• Better physical fitness
• Improved mood
• Less need for pain medicines with fewer drug side effects
• Ability to go back to work
• Increased productivity at work

Complications :

The overwhelming majority of people who undergo back surgery have no complications during or after surgery. All surgeries, though, carry some degree of risk. The general risks of any back surgery can include:

• Reaction to anesthesia or other drugs
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clots, for instance in the legs or lungs
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Recurrent disk herniation
• Nerve damage, which can result in weakness, paralysis, pain, sexual dysfunction, or loss of bowel or bladder control

Some risks might be higher for certain people. And the level of risk may also vary depending on the type of surgery. Part of the surgeon’s job is to help you identify your risk from back surgery. Talking with your doctor before a back surgery is the best way to understand your personal risk.

Types (with benefits & complications)

Each type of back surgery comes with its own risks and benefits.

Spinal Fusion.

Spinal fusion is the most common surgery for back pain. In a spinal fusion, a surgeon joins spinal bones, called vertebrae, together. This restricts motion between the bones of the spine. Fusion also limits the stretching of nerves. Reduced spinal motion does not significantly limit activity for most people. One risk unique to spinal fusion surgery is incomplete fusion of the vertebrae. That can require additional surgery. While incomplete fusion is uncommon, smoking does increase the risk. Smoking also increases the risk of infection after back surgery.

Laminectomy.

In a laminectomy, a surgeon removes parts of the bone, bone spurs, or ligaments in the back. This relieves pressure on spinal nerves that may be causing pain or weakness. A laminectomy, however, can cause the spine to be less stable. If the spinal bones become unstable, a spinal fusion is usually performed. Spinal fusion may also be performed at the same time as laminectomy.

Foraminotomy.

During a foraminotomy, a surgeon cuts away bone at the sides of vertebrae to widen the space where nerve roots exit the spine. The enlarged space may relieve pressure on the nerves, thereby relieving pain.

A foraminotomy can sometimes result in reduced stability of the spine, similar to what happens in a laminectomy. A spinal fusion may be done at the same time. Doing so increases the amount of time needed for recovery but also prevents the spine from becoming unstable. If the spine becomes unstable after a foraminotomy, a spinal fusion can be done to correct the problem.

Discectomy.

A bulging or “slipped” disc, the cushion that separates vertebrae, may press on a spinal nerve and cause back pain. In a discectomy, the surgeon removes all or part of the disc. A discectomy can be done through a large incision or through a smaller incision using tools from outside the body. A discectomy may be part of a larger surgery that includes laminectomy, foraminotomy, or spinal fusion.

Disc Replacement.

In artificial disc replacement, a surgeon removes a damaged spinal disc and inserts an artificial disc between the vertebrae. Disc replacement permits continued motion of the spine. It is gaining popularity as an alternative to spinal fusion. Recovery time for a disc replacement may be shorter than for a spinal fusion in many people. As with any foreign object placed inside the body, there is a small risk of the device dislodging or failing.

Interlaminar Implant.

Another alternative to spinal fusion is the implant of a U-shaped device. The device is placed between two back bones in the lower back and helps maintain the space between. The procedure can be done at the same time as a laminectomy and surgical relief of pressure on the spinal nerves. Unlike spinal fusion, the implant provides stability without completely restricting motion. It does limit backward bending in the region where it’s placed, which helps to ease symptoms of spinal stenosis.

For most people, the main risk of back surgery is not gaining good relief from back pain after the surgery. Unfortunately, this risk is hard to predict or avoid. Talking openly with your surgeon can help you know what to expect from back surgery.

Ruby Hall Clinic’s Spine Specialists provide advanced, comprehensive medical treatment for patients with back and neck problems. We use the latest in surgical procedures to address these problems. Each case is thoroughly reviewed to determine the best course of action to fix symptoms at their root cause.

Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation

• Ultrasonic diathermy
• Shortwave diathermy
• Heat/cold therapy
• TENS
• Intermittent traction
• Matrix Therapy
• Therapeutic exercise

Surgeries Performed

• Excision of spinal tumours
• Stabilisation for atlantoareial discation
• Instumentation for correction of scolisis
• Stabilisation Procedures
• Artificial disc replacement
• Anterior cervical microdiscectomy with fusion
• Laminectomy with fusion
• Laminectomy
• Miscroscopic discectomy

Specialists include

• Spine surgeons
• Orthopedic surgeons
• Neurosurgeons
• Neurologists
• Radiologists
• Physiotherapists

Diagnostic procedures

• MRI
• CT scan
• X-ray

What are the speciality services available at Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie?

Offering expert medical care and state-of-the-art imaging technology to diagnose a wide range of spinal ailments, our team has successfully treated even the most debilitating spine conditions ranging from herniated disc to spinal stenosis and spinal deformities including scoliosis and kyphosis. From comprehensive non-surgical treatments to complex revision surgeries, our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to providing a personalised treatment plan so that each patient can achieve optimal results:

Surgical Treatments : Based on our understanding of your condition and your living needs, we offer a full range of minimally invasive surgical procedures that help shorten your hospital stay, speed up recovery and get you back on your feet within no time. These include:

• Laser Assisted Endoscopic Disectomy
• Microscopic Minimally Invasive Spinal Decompression
• Percutaneous Spinal Fusion Surgery
• Total Disc Replacement Surgery
• Lumbar Fusion
• Lumbar Disc Replacement
• Tumour Excision

Non-surgical Treatments : Our team specialises in non-surgical care by delivering compassionate and innovative treatments, even for those conditions that were once thought untreatable. Emphasising on the most conservative approach, our services include:

• Conventional Medication
• Pain Management
• Physiotherapy
• Spine Rehabilitation
• Counselling
• Interventional Therapies
• Activity or Lifestyle Modification