Minimal access spinal technology has revolutionized the world : Chandigarh

Physical independence is of significant importance to human beings. Impaired mobility due to pain, disabilities, injuries or infections can affect an individual physically, psychologically and emotionally. Spinal deformity or trauma is such a condition that can be life changing if not taken care of, with patients shying away from their social lives.

 

However now with the changing face of vertebral surgeries, there is hope for spinal patients to live a life free of pain and stigma and embrace the company of others. One such cutting edge technique, minimal access spinal technology (MAST) has revolutionized the traditional spinal surgery norms. With minimal scarring and quick recovery, MAST is one of the most widely used spinal surgery procedures in the world.

"Most of the patients I have treated with spine problems used to shy away from the company of other people because they were afraid of being stared at and ridiculed, and this was detrimental for their self esteem and confidence," said Dr. Amit Kapoor,Orthospine, Ivy Hospital,Mohali. "Those patients who opted for MAST surgery experienced a total transformation since their spinal issues were resolved and there were no ugly scars that would prompt them to cover up their backs," he added.

Compared to the traditional spinal surgery, MAST stands out with its benefits, the doctor explained. "Scars affect an individual greatly, especially when it comes to wearing clothes. With minimal access spinal surgery or keyhole spinal surgery there is less or no scar formation. This is a boon for patients as they can now wear summer clothes without feeling awkward. Earlier with traditional spinal surgeries the recovery period was much longer and was an ongoing process associated with back pain," he said.

According to Dr. Amit Kapoor the most beneficial aspect of MAST is the quick recovery time that allows the patient to go home the very next day, and they can resume their normal routine within a week.

"Patients now feel confident, empowered and independent after the surgery, unlike with traditional spinal surgeries," he said, going on to explain that, " Spinal surgery is required in case of various injuries, infections and deformities. Awareness about the medical condition with prompt action can help the patient greatly."


Source : T.O.I , 19th July 2013

City doctors perform spine straightening surgery : Vishakha Patnam

In a complex four-and-a-half hour surgery, a severe spinal deformity of a 14-year-old girl from Anakapalle was completely corrected by doctors in the city recently. Neeraja, a ninth standard student of a local government school, had developed a small hump on the right side of her back a couple of years ago that kept getting progressively worse.

She was diagnosed with a severe case of scoliosis, in which the spine gets bent to one side, twisting the back into an abnormal shape. While scoliosis usually affects adolescent girls, one out of 10,000 cases of the ailment are severe, where there is a large curve of the spine. Though moderate curvature can be prevented from progressing by wearing braces, in severe cases the curvature progresses rapidly and needs to be operated upon early. Large curves also cause respiratory problems later in life apart from causing fatigue and mental stress due to social stigma, say doctors.

The curvature of the spine was corrected by inserting 23 titanium pedicle screws into the vertebrae that were connected to rods, which in turn were de-rotated to unbend the spine, explained Dr B Leela Prasad, who along with Dr M Muralimohan and Dr J Naresh Babu operated on Neeraja on June 30 and kept her under observation for almost a week.

"Bone grafts were also placed to prevent worsening of the deformity in the future. After the surgery she was kept under observation and made to sit up and walk from the second day. Follow-up showed that her spine got back its shape and she can go back to school after a month," said Dr Leela Prasad.

"I had assumed it was due to the weight of the school bag carried by her. But the size of the hump kept on increasing and she developed an obvious deformity. Neeraja was depressed and confined herself indoors to avoid being made fun of. Local doctors diagnosed it as scoliosis but said this was major surgery that could leave her paralysed for life and advised us to approach doctors in any of the metro cities," said her mother Subhadra.

"We then consulted Dr Leela Prasad, who after examining the patient and reviewing the x-rays suggested surgical correction of the deformity. We were scared that the surgery would cripple her permanently and feared for her life. But Neeraja was brave enough and was determined to get her deformity rectified," said her father Satyanarayana.

Source : TOI , 9th July 2013