The spine is under constant pressure from stabilizing the skeleton from the head to the hips, leading to a range of spinal disorders and deformities. Traumatic accidents, wear and tear, congenital or systemic disorders are common causes of spinal problems such as spinal stenosis, osteoporosis, disc herniation, etc. that weaken the vertebral column. Some of them are temporary and easily curable, while some may cause permanent deformities that mostly require surgical intervention.

How to know if you need a spinal treatment?

A spinal problem may gradually develop for several years or may happen suddenly due to some other condition. Mild to moderate neck and back pain are considered to be typical symptoms of spinal disorders in their initial stages. However, there are some other signs which might be indicating that you need a spinal treatment, such as  

  • Feeling severe shock like pain in the legs
  • Feeling weakness in the legs while walking
  • Feeling severe stiffness in the lower back region while walking or sleeping
  • Inability to move flexibly due to the limited range of back motion
  • Failure to maintain normal posture due to severe back pain, feeling restless
  • Getting muscle spasms and tightened hamstrings even when your body is at rest
  • Experiencing severe and persistent back pain for more than ten days
  • Having unforeseen limping episodes while walking

The vast majority of patients with spine problems can be treated with therapy and medications as the body tries to fix the issues naturally over time. However, when conservative treatments prove unsuccessful, a surgical procedure can be used to fix the problem more quickly.

What Are The Latest Methods Of Performing Spinal Surgeries?

Latest advancements in spinal surgical procedures have produced the most efficient way of repairing the spine, known as ‘Minimally Invasive Spine (MIS)’ surgeries. MIS surgeries are keyhole-type surgeries which are performed through small incisions while retaining most of the muscles and tissues that would have been damaged by traditional surgery.

MIS surgeries make use of a tool called ‘tubular retractor’. It is a solid tube which is inserted through a small incision on the skin over the specific region where the problem exists, without disturbing the surrounding skin tissues and muscles. The tube retracts the muscles on its way (instead of cutting them) and is then used for inserting surgical tools and removing damaged parts.

The tube stays intact throughout the procedure, and the small incision it makes is much faster to heal than the large incisions made during open spine surgeries.

If you suspect any of the above symptoms of spinal problems, then following are some of these minimally invasive spine surgeries that you must know about before starting your spine treatment:

MIS Lumbar Diskectomy:

Diskectomy or Discectomy is performed to surgically remove a herniated disc to decompress the spine and prevent it from damaging the surrounding root nerves. The herniated disc also causes severe pain, weakness and numbness in the body.

MIS Lumbar Diskectomy Procedure:

The patient is induced with general or regional anaesthesia and is made to sleep facing down on the belly. The tubular retractor is inserted, and a small part of the lamina bone is removed to make the underlying nerves and the damaged disc visible. Through the retractor, the surgeon carefully moves the nerves and removes only the damaged disc. This technique can also be used for removing a herniated disc from the neck. 

MIS Lumbar Fusion:

MIS Lumbar Fusion is a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) where the surgeon approaches the damaged spinal area from the sides of the spine and not over it. The patient is positioned facing down, and two retractors are inserted from both sides of the spine, preventing the damage to central nerves and bones. Through both the retractors, the surgeon removes the damaged parts from the spine. The prosthetic implants or bone grafts are placed inside and additional fixations like screws and rods

You can get these advanced MIS surgeries only from a highly experienced spine surgeon in Mumbai as it requires a higher set of skills and understanding. 

Dr Akhil Tawari is one such highly adept and trusted minimally invasive spine surgeon in Mumbai, who provides comprehensive solutions for all spine-related problems. You can visit Dr Tawari’s website to learn more about his treatments.