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Spine decompression surgery is performed to relieve symptoms caused by compression or pressure on the spinal cord and the nerve roots passing through the spinal cord. A few examples of these conditions which apply pressure on the spine nerves, by narrowing the spinal canal and the spinal nerve openings, include the following: • Bulging discs • Collapsed discs • Loosened ligaments • Thickened joints • Bony growths Symptoms: • Pain, which can vary in intensity • feeling of numbness • tingling sensation • weakness • imbalance and unsteadiness • paralysis and lack of bladder control ( in extreme cases) Common techniques for Spine decompression surgery: Discectomy: This surgery involves the removal of a portion of the spine disc in order to relieve the pressure which is being exerted on nerve roots Laminectomy /Laminotomy: The spinal canal is sheathed in bony arches, called the lamina. Sometimes, the lamina itself applies pressure on the enclosed or exiting nerve roots. During laminectomy, the entire lamina in the affected area is removed. In laminotomy, which is a more conservative procedure, only a section of the lamina is removed. The surgery increases the width of the spinal canal, thereby removing the pressure on the nerve roots. Foraminotomy or Foraminectomy: In some cases, the opening from the spinal cord from which the nerves exit is constricted. The procedure that is performed to remove tissue in order to provide a wider opening for the nerves is called Foraminotomy. The same procedure when performed to remove substantially more bone and tissue is called Foraminectomy. Removal of osteophytes: Osteophytes are bony growths on the spinal cord which impinge on and affect nearby nerves. Removing these bony growths provides symptomatic relief. Corpectomy : Sometimes the cause of spine compression is on account of the body of a vertebrae or a spine disc itself. Surgery for the removal of the vertebrae / spine disc is called corpectomy. Your surgery: Depending on the presentation of the patient, the spine surgeon may use a combination of techniques. In cases where the spine has become unstable, the surgeon may also perform spine fusion surgery using artificial implants made of metals like titanium as also bone graft harvested from the patient’s own body. Duration of surgery: The surgery can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 6 hours depending on the extent of the problem and the number of spine levels at which the surgery is needed. Length of hospital stay: Will range between 3 days to 5 days depending on the extent of surgery Total duration of stay in India: 10-12 days Risks of spine decompression surgery : In a modern hospital setting and at the hands of an expert spine surgeon, major risks arising from spine decompression surgery are less than 1%. Some of the risks include : • Infection • Bleeding • Damage to tissue or nerve • Formation of blood clots • Reaction to anaesthesia Success rate of spine decompression surgery : The success rate for each patient will depend on his individual presentation. At the best hospitals in India, the success rates for these procedures ranges between 90 - 99 %. About the Author- P R Ramesh is the CEO of Aarex Medical Services, one of India's leading medical tourism companies. Ramesh is well-connected with India's best doctors and hospitals and is one of the senior most professionals in the medical tourism industry in India, having delivered quality medical care over the last decade to patients from over 30 countries from across the globe.
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