Spine Surgery in Delhi, India
Overview
Spine surgery is a surgical procedure performed to treat serious musculoskeletal injuries or nerve compression in the back. Back pain is quite common and can be treated without any surgery. Other treatments like physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and conservative treatment can relieve back pain.
However, if there is any spinal deformity, trauma, spine tumours, spinal infections, bulging/herniated disc or nerve compression caused due to overgrowth of bone then surgical treatment becomes necessary. Furthermore, surgery may be the next move if you suffer from chronic back pain, which doesn’t go away with other treatments.
Most people who have back pain don’t need surgery. However, in some instances where you experience a lot of pain, spine surgery is the only option to fix it. That said, you may be a good candidate for spine surgery if you meet the following conditions:
- Herniated disc
- Removal of a tumour in the spine
- Treatable spinal deformities
- A defect in a part of the lower vertebrae
- Spinal stenosis
- Fractured vertebra
- Infection in the spine
- Spinal instability
- Back pain that goes away with other treatments
- No serious spinal cord injury
- Smoking
- Multiple medical conditions
- Bleeding disorder, anaemia or any other chronic illness
- Unable to tolerate anaesthesia
Your doctor will explain the spine surgery in detail along with its risk and benefits. The doctor will ask if you take any medications, including over-the-counter drugs (like aspirin), herbs, and vitamins. The doctor will also ask about allergies and the family history of any bleeding disorder. Before the surgery, you may need specific imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, MRI, myelogram, and more. Some other preparation that is required for the surgery includes:
- Medical evaluation
- Neurological examination
- Avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs to avoid the risk of bleeding
- Stop taking blood-thinning medications for two weeks before the surgery
- Not to eat or drink after midnight before the surgery
- Stop smoking
- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: These procedures treat vertebral compression fractures and improve osteoporosis. The surgeon inserts bone cement into the fracture in vertebroplasty through a long, hollowed needle. When there is severe compression, kyphoplasty is performed. A balloon is inserted and inflated to lift the compression, and bone cement is inserted into the place to strengthen the area.
- Laminectomy: This procedure relieves pressure on the spinal nerves, removes bone spurs, and treats spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). The surgeon cuts away a part of the bone in the spinal column (lamina), bone spurs, or ligaments during the procedure. This relieves the pressure on a spinal nerve, though the procedure may make your spine is stable.
- Discectomy: The procedure is performed to relieve the pressure from the spinal cord. The procedure is used to remove part of the herniated disk, which is putting pressure on the nerve or spinal cord. Laminectomy and discectomy are usually performed together.
- Foraminotomy: The foraminotomy surgery is performed to relieve the pain associated with a compressed nerve in the spine. In this procedure, the surgeon cuts the bone at the side of the vertebrae to prevent it from pressing on the nerve.
- Spinal fusion: The surgery is performed to reduce spinal curve deformity by aligning the spine. In this procedure, the surgeon fuses two or more vertebrae with a bone graft and locks them in place using screws, plates, metal rods etc. The surgery can correct a spinal curve by up to 70 per cent.
- Artificial disk replacement: In this procedure, the surgeon removes the damaged spinal disk and replaces it with a synthetic disk. This helps restore height and movement between the vertebrae.
The complications after spine surgery are generally low. However, like any other major surgery, there are some risks associated with it, including bleeding, infection, and reaction to anaesthesia. Other complications may include:
- Difficulty with urination
- Blood clots
- Recurrent back pain
- Nerve damage
- Problems with rods or screws
- Stroke
- Spinal headache
- Heart attack
- It may take six months to one year for procedures like spinal fusion for your bone to fully heal.
- In the case of laminectomy or discectomy, the recovery period is usually 12 weeks. Your doctor will prescribe pain medications. However, these typically go away within two weeks after the surgery.
Your surgeon may also ask to follow some precautions, including:
- Avoiding strenuous activities
- Avoid lifting or bending
- Wear back brace for some time
- Physical therapy sessions after surgery
- Maintain a good posture to keep your back straight
- Change positions now and then
- Keep the incision area clean and dry