Conquering lower back pain with technology

If lower back pain is your constant companion, thanks to your job which requires you to drive long stretches to get to work every day, involves so much travel that you literally end up living out of a suitcase or sitting for long hours glued to the computer screen, then you are not alone.

According to estimates, lower back pain is one of the most common disorders affecting people in the age group of 35-55 years. In fact, 8 out of 10 people are estimated to be affected by chronic back pain at some point in their lifetime, adversely impacting both their quality of life and ability to work. Studies in India have reported more than 70 per cent of computer professionals affected by pain in the lower back and musculoskeletal disorders.

Most people are unaware that lower back pain is a serious health issue, an outcome of constant strain on the spine, and needs immediate attention. Factors, such as bad sitting posture, poor nutrition, stress, obesity and smoking can pre-dispose chronic back pain.

According to experts, the human backbone, which is a long, bony structure made up of 33 vertebrae attached to each other with spongy discs called inter-vertebral discs, is strong enough to support the upper body but certainly not for an overload.

“While mild to moderate lower back pain can be treated with physiotherapy and medications, at times back pain arising from conditions, such as disc degeneration, herniated discs and spinal fractures may necessitate surgical intervention.

Advent of advanced technologies such as navigation and minimally access spine technology (MAST) have made surgical procedures extremely safe and effective”, says DrDr. Manas P,Consultant Neurosurgeon, KIMS hospital, Hyderabad.

Thankfully, Harshit’s condition can be easily treated with the advanced surgical procedure called MAST complimented by Navigation and Nerve monitoring system.

MAST, which has been developed to perform keyhole surgeries to prevent any damage to adjoining muscles, has not just made spine surgeries less complicated, but also quick, safe, cost-effective and scar-free.

Furthermore, new developments in spine surgeries have revolutionized surgical outcomes and accuracy. For instance, in case of difficult and complicated spinal anatomy technologies like Stealth Station S7 Surgical Navigation Systemguides the surgeon to the exact site during the operation.

In addition, there are intra-operative nerve monitoring (IONM) systemsequipped to detect risk of injury during surgery andraise an alarm to prevent damage to nerve root. Since neurological deficits after spinal procedures can result in the failure of basic human functions and can be devastating, IONM can predict an increased risk of injury during spine surgeries by assessing changes in electrical potentials in the nerves using electrophysiological techniques.

This is strongly associated with enhanced surgical outcomes and reduced risk for patients, point out experts. The StealthStation S7 Surgical Navigation Systemallows surgeons to visualize the patient’s anatomy in 3D during surgery. According to research studies, when performing surgeries using the electromagnetic navigation, surgeons and operating staff are exposed to 50 per cent less radiations.

Also, right positioning of pedicle screws is very crucial as wrong placement can lead to serious complications such as spinal and muscle injuries. However, it has been observed that malpositioning of screws happens in 10-40 per cent of surgeries, resulting in revision surgeries at the rate of 6.6 per cent. Navigation technology assist surgeons in precise positioning of pedicle screws, negating the risk for spinal damage and need forrevision surgeries2.

Advanced technologies have not only brought efficacy and safety in complicated surgical procedures but has also made thempatient-friendly, effective, convenient, cost-efficient, quicker, safer, and scar-free. So, if your surgeon recommends surgery for your ailing back, do not despair. It’s time you said goodbye to that pain!