Technological advancements help in spine surgeries

Technological advancements help in spine surgeries
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Highlights

On an average spine surgery departments in major hospitals receive 30-40 cases per day in the city but there is good news for patients suffering from spinal problems as the Navigation Assisted Spine Surgery (NASS) is helping people recover three times faster than the conventional method, thanks to modern equipment. 

Navigation Assisted Spine Surgery a boon to patients as it is far better than the conventional spinal fusion operation as it gives 3D images and doctors are able to pin point the exact location of the problem

On an average spine surgery departments in major hospitals receive 30-40 cases per day in the city but there is good news for patients suffering from spinal problems as the Navigation Assisted Spine Surgery (NASS) is helping people recover three times faster than the conventional method, thanks to modern equipment.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr G P V Subbaiah, Spine surgeon, says, “NASS gives a huge safety net to the patient. It is a boon to the surgeons as the accuracy levels are almost 100 per cent.”


HIGHLIGHTS:

  • NASS gives close to 100 per cent accuracy and assures a safety net to patients
  • There is no radiation as was the case in the past with traditional surgery
  • NASS gives 3D images, thereby making it possible for surgeons to pinpoint the exact location of the problem

NASS is far better than the conventional spinal fusion operation as it gives 3D images and doctors are able to pin point the exact location of the problem.

In the past spine surgeons had to rely to a great extent on skill and experience and perform surgeries as in most spinal deformities, the anatomy is distorted. With NASS, surgeons can place the screws at the exact location. All around the area where the screws are placed, there are nerves and a slight mistake could lead to multiple problems.

The scanned images are fed into the navigation machine and it guides the surgeon. Accuracy is the name of the game and this ensures safety to the patient.

In a recent surgery, a 58-year-old RTC employee who was suffering with back pain (sciatica) for five years was house bound and unable to even walk to the bathroom was back to his feet in a couple of days after the operation.

Surgeons say that it is a myth that only IT employees get spinal problems, in a recent study it was found that a great majority of construction workers developed spinal problems. Dr Kiran, a spine surgeon says that now it can be termed as a lifestyle disease. Studies reveal that junk food, smoking, lack of exercise can have an adverse effect on the spine.

No radiation
A major benefit with NASS is the risk of radiation is zero. It is a major relief to not just the patient but to the operating team as there is no risk of radiation. In the traditional spinal fusion operation, one would get two dimensional images. Now with Navigation Assisted Spine Surgery, 3D images are possible which increase accuracy and safety to almost 100 per cent.

During spinal fusion operations, image intensifier is used- a conventional technique in which doctors get two dimensional images. Now with Navigation Assisted Spine Surgery, 3D images are possible which increase accuracy and safety to almost 100 per cent.

Spinal fusion operation is most common and this is done due to disk problems, slippage of vertebra spondilolystheis), spine fractures, spine infections, spinal deformities.

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