The spine supports the body and helps to stand, sit, bend, move, and spin. The spine, which protects the spinal cord from injury, extends from the base of the skull to the lower end of the back. It is shaped like an “S”. It has 33 bones interconnected to each other.
These vertebrae are numbered and divided into four areas: cervical vertebrae (near the neck), thoracic vertebrae (upper back), lumbar vertebrae (lower back), sacrum (extreme lower back – connecting the spine to the hip), and also the tailbone coccyx of the spine. Only 24 of these bones move because the sacrum and tailbone are fused.
As the world is progressing fast, we are observing technological progress in all areas of life. Spinal surgery has also shifted from primary incision/open surgery to minimally invasive microscopic spinal surgery, endoscopic surgery, and keyhole surgery.
This modality, when carefully chosen for the right patient, ensures excellent results and a shorter hospital stay, along with shorter rest periods and quick return to work.
Spine problems are common in Hubballi-Dharwad, India, and North Karnataka. Dr. Vijay Mahantesh Pujari specializes in treating various spine conditions using keyhole spine surgery techniques.
Spine Related Problems
Spinal problems can occur due to injuries, tumours, infections, vertebral dislocation, and age-related issues such as intervertebral disc degeneration. Symptoms that indicate problems with your spine include constant back pain (up/down), neck pain, numbness in the legs and arms, and difficulty sitting, standing, or walking.
Surgical Treatment of Spinal Ailments
Spine surgery is divided into two types—conventional or open surgery and keyhole/minimum access surgery to the spine. Certain spinal conditions such as intervertebral discs (compression) and tumours can be treated with keyhole spinal surgery or minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS).
How Keyhole Spine Surgery Works?
Because the spinal cord and intervertebral nerve are located deep in the body, the spinal area to treat must be accessed by moving muscle tissue. This can be done using small holes, directional instruments, and tiny video cameras inserted through minimal incisions.
The incision resembles a keyhole and is typically one inch long.
Procedure:
Minimally invasive spinal surgery is performed using a tiny incision. This small incision is used to send segmental tubular retractors and dilators to pull the muscle away from the operating area and make the affected area of the spine accessible. It minimizes damage to muscles and soft tissue and reduces blood loss during surgery.
An endoscope, a thin telescopic instrument with a video camera at the end, is inserted through a small hole to provide an image on the monitors of the operating area in the operating room. Some surgeons use a surgical microscope instead of the endoscope to achieve the same results. In these procedures, special mini surgical instruments are sent through a working channel to perform the surgery. After the procedure is complete, the tissue is replaced after the removal of various instruments. The incision is then stitched and closed with sterile surgical gauze.
Spinal Conditions Treated Using Keyhole Procedure:
Degenerative disc disease
Herniated disc or Ruptured disc
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Some spinal infections
Spinal instability including spondylolisthesis
Vertebral compression fractures
Some spinal tumours
Advantages Of Keyhole Spine Surgeries:
Minimal hospital stays, maybe 1 or 2 days after the surgery
Faster return to a healthy life
Tiny surgical incisions
Minimal blood loss
Lesser tissue/muscle damage
Fewer post-surgical complications including infections
Lower incidence of surgery-related back pain
Lesser pain
Minimal painkillers
Quicker recovery
Keyhole spinal surgery is beneficial for some elderly patients because there are far fewer problems associated with it. It is also helpful for overweight patients because the healing time is shorter, and they can start walking the next day.
The most common use of keyhole spinal surgery is to treat herniated discs that cause sciatic pain. In this case, the patient gets discharged on the same day or the day after surgery.
The doctor can determine which keyhole surgery, if any, can be an option for treating spinal disease. In some situations, keyhole operations may not be as safe or effective as traditional open operations. In this case, a doctor can tell you about the relative risks and benefits. Besides, several conditions cannot get treated with keyhole surgery.
Performing keyhole spinal surgery requires advanced surgical skills and specialized training based on the latest technology. Dr. Vijay Mahantesh Pujari is highly experienced and has the latest training to treat complex spinal disorders in adults and children, including spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis (spinal dislocation), fracture fixation, spinal tumours, and spinal fusion procedures.
Why Choose Dr. Vijay Mahantesh Pujari?
Dr. Vijay Mahantesh Pujari is a leading spine surgeon in Hubballi-Dharwad, India. He has years of experience in spinal surgery and has helped many patients. He has extensive experience in various fields of spine surgery such as spinal cord trauma, pediatric spine problems, spinal tumours, and back pain.
Dr. Vijay Mahantesh Pujari talks with patients, takes time to understand their condition and history, and offers the most appropriate advice, from surgery to rest, rehabilitation, strength, and functional exercises after surgery. He also provides information about other possible treatments and related risks.