The quality of life of a 55-year-old man took a turn in Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur after he walked into the emergency department of Wockhardt hospitals with severe pain in the lower back which was also felt in his left leg making him unable to even stand.
After investigations, the patient was diagnosed to have slipped disc. Dr. Rahul Zamad, Consultant- Spine and Neurosurgery, Wockhardt Hospitals in Nagpur suggested the patient undergo minimally invasive tubular spine surgery for removal of disc.
The patient was admitted and surgery was performed the same day with an incision of 2.5 cm only. The patient was absolutely pain-free a few hours after the surgery. He was discharged in less than 24 hours of admission and approximately after 12 hours of surgery with a very small scar on his back.
“In general the aim of MIS surgery is to relieve the pressure being applied to the spinal cord and nerves and to stabilize the backbones which can be caused by a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis, spinal infections and instability, spinal tumors, bony deformities in back. As compared to open surgery MIS can be faster, safer, and has less recovery time”, informed Dr. Rahul Zamad.
Dr. Zamad also informed that potential benefits of this type of highly skilled surgery are:
- Better cosmetic results with a smaller incision
- Reduced post-operative pain
- Less blood loss
- Reduced muscle damage and faster recovery
- Reduced risk of infection
- Early return to work
Some of these surgeries can even be performed as a daycare procedure. MISS uses tubular retractors which are used following a trocar which keeps the muscles out of the way to visualize the areas of interest and perform the procedure. Once the surgery is done the tubular retractors are removed.
There are also certain risk factors involved with MISS like with any other surgery like
Localized infection though less than the open procedure
Conversion to open procedure in a very small no of cases.
Patient selection is very important for the procedure as MISS may not be as safe or effective as a traditional procedure in some situations and certain surgeries may not be possible to be performed by MISS at all. I asked the doctor will be able to tell regarding the relative risks and benefits of the same.
