Technological advancements, desi implants make spine surgeries safe and cost-effective

Fit and fine after scoliosis (spine) surgery on February 14, a confident Khilari is five feet tall now and needs only a pillow to sleep Less Until early February, Ajinath Khilari (27) from Shanisingnapur needed four pillows to sleep. When standing against a wall, his head would be 30cm ahead away because of the hunch on his back. Barely three feet tall then, his self-confidence was at the nadir Fit and fine after scoliosis (spine) surgery on February 14, a confident Khilari is five feet tall now and needs only a pillow to sleep Thanks to neuromonitoring and advanced Indian implants, curing scoliosis through surgery has become safe and affordable these days. Khilari is one of the beneficiaries of the revolutionary advancements in the medical science technology in India. Khilari showed signs of ankylosing spondylitis five years ago, leading to kyphosis — a forward curvature of the spine. Khilari’s back initially got stiff and then curved forward, making any movement difficult for him. His spine gradually became rigid like a bamboo.

A farmer, Khilari approached a local doctor for treatment. “He told me that spine surgery could rectify my posture, but I could be paralysed after it,” Khilari said, adding, “My condition worsened with each passing day. I didn’t know what was happening to me. Gradually, I was fixed like a sickle.” When his breathing started getting affected, Khilari’s family took him to another doctor in Ahmednagar. This doctor referred Khilari to Sancheti

Hospital, where he met spine surgeon Ajay Kothari. After a detailed examination, special x-rays, MRI scans, Khilari went under the knife following an extensive planning. Kothari completed the complex deformity correction surgery well under three hours. “I am a relieved and happy man now,” Khilari told TOI two days after he underwent the surgery at Sancheti Hospital. 

Kothari finds it more challenging to clear misconceptions about spine problems than the complicated surgery he conducted on Khilari. He said, “There is a taboo about coming forward with scoliosis because the patient and their family members frequently face superstitious statements like it is a curse of god. 

Patients usually come to doctors at late stages because of stigma and lack of knowledge that scoliosis is completely curable.” Laying stress on social awareness about hunchback, Kothari said, “Our aim as spine surgeons is to spread awareness about scoliosis and other such conditions. Special importance should be given to kyphoscoliosis because it starts early in a person’s life as compared to other spine conditions like prolapsed or ‘slipped’ disc.” He said schools in the US conduct screening programmes to detect deformities early. “This is the need of the hour in India,” Kothari added. 

Recommended By Colombia Barely 12, Tanmay Chaudhary from Shirur had severe kyphoscoliosis, which went undetected for long in the absence of screening programmes in schools. He would often miss classes due to the excruciating pain. After a corrective surgery at a city hospital six months ago, Tanmay is now like any other bubbly child of his age. 

A public works department (PWD) engineer from Nagpur, who did not wish to be named, is also a beneficiary of the modern technology in the medical field. A scoliosis patient, he was afraid of surgery fearing that he might not be able to walk again. However, Kothari put all his fears to rest. Postsurgery, he is a happily married man now. “Spine surgery is looked at as a dangerous and crippling procedure in the society, primarily due to the lack of knowledge, prompting false beliefs. It has become absolutely safe after the advent of neuromonitoring. 

A team of spine surgeon, anaesthetist and neurophysician keeps a close eye on the patient’s nervous system during the surgery, completely cancelling out the fear factor during the pre-neuromonitoring era, when the success of the surgery was found out afterwards,” he said. 

Another factor which prevents patients, especially Indians, from opting for much needed surgeries is the cost factor. “Now, with good Indian implants available, complex spine surgeries have become affordable. In the US, spine surgery costs over $25,000, whereas in India it is done well within $6000,” he added

Source : TOI , 24 Feb 2019