NEUROMONITORING GADGETS MAKE SPINE SURGERY SAFE

We gave you insights into what causes spine problems and what the symptoms are. Now, in this last piece of the series, Dr.Subbaiah Gole throws light on the treatment of spine diseases.

What are the various treatment options available?

Degenerative pathologies are quite common. For all the degenerative pathologies, we treat the patients medically. Only when there is an emergency, like a fracture or a situation wherein the patient has progressive weakness of the hand or loses control over urine and motion, or even when there is a spine deformity such as bending of the spine or a tumor, do we opt for surgery. Otherwise, we follow medical treatment. Here as well, there are cases wherein the patient does not respond to medical treatment, in which case we turn to surgery.

How safe is the surgery?

Very safe. Like how every surgery comes with some complexities that are to be taken care of, spine surgery comes with neurological complexes. But now with the availability of modern gadgets such as neuromonitoring, the problems are taken care of. Neuromonitoring monitors the activity of the nerves during surgery in the operating room, and the moment the surgeon is close to the danger zone, say close to the nerves, he gets a signal.

There is a huge misconception in society that spine surgery is a complex one and the patient will be bedridden for months. This is not true. The reason we operate is to ease the suffer

ing fromspinal health issues. Having surgery doesn’t mean the patient will be bedridden indefinitely.

So, should we consider spine surgery safe?

Yes. Pretty safe.

For Appointment:Dr. G.P.V. Subbaiah, Consultant Spine Surgeon, Star Hospital.