Spine

The spine is central to a person's flexibility, strength and balance. It is so delicate that even a smallest change in the structure can lead to significant disability and pain. Back problems are one of the most common reasons to see a doctor. Approximately 80% of people will experience back pain during their lifetime. Fortunately, for the vast majority of these people the pain will subside naturally without the need for surgery.

Spine surgery — whether back or neck surgery — is an advanced treatment option for pain and disability caused by an identifiable lesion in the patient’s anatomy that has not adequately improved with non-surgical treatments. In cases such as spinal arthritis which tends to be chronic, the symptoms are rarely progressive and rarely require surgery on the painful spinal joints. However, surgery may be needed in severe cases, and may include a spine fusion, decompression and/or laminectomy.

From the most common to the most complicated, the Spine division at Sunshine Hospitals treats a full range of back pain and spinal related conditions. Most of the patients who walk in to Sunshine for spine treatment have either tough-to-diagnose conditions or have been treated wrongly for their condition.

Patients with spine abnormalities that can cause devastating pain, damaged bones in the spine and injuries to the spinal cord and its adjoining nerves are given world-class treatment for their conditions using the latest imaging technologies. Spine surgeons at Sunshine have received special training in the diagnosis and treatment of the spine which include problems with the neck (cervical spine), mid back (thoracic spine) and low back (lumbar spine).

The following spinal disorders are treated at Sunshine Hospitals

  • Lower back pain
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Herniated and ruptured discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spine trauma
  • Disc Herniation
  • Spinal Cord Tumor
  • Spine Deformities
  • Osteoporotic Fractures

Spine being a very sensitive area requires getting the surgery right the first time. Delivering complex surgical procedure is made by a collective team effort involving the surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, radiologists and rehabilitation specialists. We are working hard to make procedures less invasive, leading to lesser pain, faster recovery, and better, longer-lasting results.The latest techniques like Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Expandable devices for Lumbar Spine Fusion are routinely carried out with results at par with the best centers globally.

Conventional Spine surgery involves taking long incisions, forceful muscle retraction for prolonged time, removal of normal tissues like ligaments and bone to approach area of pathology. Most of the times these surgeries are done under prolonged general anesthesia.

This long incisions and injury to normal structures results in

  • Increased blood loss
  • Increased scar tissue formation
  • Increased chance of neural injury
  • Epidural scarring
  • Denervation of paraspinal muscles

Minimal Invasive spine surgery involves

  • Use of very small incisions
  • Minimal muscle retraction
  • Less normal tissue damage
  • Targeted treatment of pathology

Surgeries Offered:

  • Scoliosis surgery for spine deformities

Cervical Spine:

  • ACDF for cervical slipped disc
  • Anterior cervical disc replacement
  • Cervical laminectomy
  • Cervical spine trauma surgery

Thoracic Spine:

  • Tumour surgery
  • Thoracic lumbar fracture (trauma surgery)
  • Kyphosis correction
  • T.B.spine surgery

Lumbar Spine:

  • Microdiscectomy for slipped disc
  • Minimal invasive lumbar spine fixation
  • Spondylolisthesis surgery
  • T.B.spine surgery
  • Vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty under local anesthesia for Osteoporotic fractures
  • Surgery for failed back surgery syndrome

And other revision surgeries for low back.

Advantages:

  • Some surgeries are done under local anesthesia, hence surgeries can be done even in patients with high risk of anesthesia
  • Less blood loss
  • Minimal morbidity
  • Patient can be mobilized very early and he/she can be back to work faster
  • Prevents complications associated with prolonged bed rest
  • Since normal tissues are not removed or damaged, post operative pain is less and also there is less chance of failed back syndrome