Rare minimal access spine surgery performed at Global Hospitals

82-year-old patient given new lease of life who was in paralytic state before the surgery

Global Hospitals Mumbai has achieved a rare feat in spine surgery. Expert team of doctors in Global Hospitals performed minimal access spine surgery on 82-year-old Ankylosing Spondylitis (Bamboo Spine) patient. The surgery was conducted by implanting 14 screws in the spinal cord.

Ankylosing Spondylitis, commonly known as Bamboo Spine is a form of rheumatic arthritis that’s associated with long-term inflammation of the joints in the spine. Symptoms include pain and stiffness from the neck down to the lower back. The spine’s bones (vertebrae) may grow or fuse together, resulting in a rigid spine. At times these changes might be severe, and may lead to a stooped-over posture.

In this case the 82-year-old patient having Ankylosing Spondylitis had a fall in November 2014. Post the fall he was constantly complaining of excruciating back pain. In February 2015 he became totally bed ridden. He was paralysed in the legs. He came to Global Hospitals in first week of March. Upon investigations, the team found that had developed three Andersson Leisons (AL). It is a known complication in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. AL may result from inflammation or (trauma) fractures of the ankylosed spine.

After carefully examining his case and meticulously weighing all the options, Dr Vishal Peshattiwar, Consultant, Consultant – Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeon, Global Hospitals, Mumbai decided that there was no option but to perform surgery on the patient. The surgery was all the more challenging as the patient had other complications as well. He had fluid in both his lungs commonly known as pleural effusion. He was also found to have very low protein levels which could have resulted in further complications.

There was no chance of performing a traditional surgery, as ‘open surgery,’ means the area being operated on is opened with a long incision to allow the surgeon to view and access the anatomy; It would have led to loss of blood and the chance of patient not surviving post the surgery would have been very high.

The team decided to conduct a minimally invasive surgery. A minimally invasive spine surgery does not involve a long incision; it avoids significant damage to the muscles surrounding the spine and results in less pain after surgery and a faster recovery.

Dr Peshattiwar carried out the complex surgery in second week of March. The doctor said, “We were delighted to know that after the surgery he is feeling much less pain as compared to the one he was in prior to the surgery. It was gratifying to see him go home walking as he had come to us on a stretcher and was on bed a month prior to that. He has recovered well and now has started performing all his daily chores by himself. It was a huge risk as there is always a danger of life involved in the surgery, and spine is extremely sensitive area.”

Talking about the benefits of minimally invasive surgeries, Dr Peshattiwar added, “Recovery post surgery is faster. There is negligible blood loss, so, the patient doesn’t require any blood transfusion. Even patients who have undergone prior surgical procedures or have stents can be operated via minimal access surgery successfully.”