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How many spinal surgery techniques are there for you to choose from?
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When it comes to "spinal surgery," the first feelings that often come to mind are "fear" and "anxiety"—wondering if you'll be able to walk again after the surgery, fearing you might be bedridden or paralyzed for life, etc. It's perfectly normal to be afraid, because these things have happened in the past.
In the past, before the advancements in surgical tools, treating spinal conditions was a major undertaking. There were no X-ray machines, high-magnification surgical cameras, or adequate surgical lighting. Furthermore, there was a shortage of highly trained surgeons. As a result, doctors had to make incisions as large as needed to treat the affected vertebrae, leading to numerous complications during and after surgery. These included death during surgery due to excessive blood loss, severe post-operative pain, and complications. These factors instilled fear in patients and their families regarding spinal surgery. However, today, advancements in spinal surgery technology, including techniques focused on the patient's lesion, have significantly reduced blood loss, muscle injury, and post-operative trauma. Additionally, hospital stays are shorter, allowing patients to return to their normal lives more quickly.
📚 Spinal surgery: A common condition, but not as scary as you might think.
📚 Both involve using an endoscope, but different types of endoscopes are used.
📚 Intervertebral disc surgery: Arthroscopic treatment of herniated disc.
The longer the surgical incision, the longer the hospital stay will be.
Comparing past and present surgical incisions, open surgery typically involves a scar size depending on the number of affected vertebrae. Generally, a single-level incision is about 2-7 cm long, while a two-level incision may be 10-12 cm long. Patients may require a hospital stay of 7-10 days or more, and ongoing physical therapy is necessary to prevent muscle atrophy.
Spinal surgery performed using a high-magnification microscope results in smaller incisions of 3-5 centimeters, making it safer. Therefore, patients typically need to stay in the hospital for 3-4 days. However, patients with reduced physical strength, the elderly, or those with underlying medical conditions may require physical therapy to restore normal muscle function.
Endoscopic spinal surgery, or minimally invasive surgery, is a new technology where the endoscope's lens is at the tip, acting like the doctor's eyes inside the patient's body. This endoscopic technique allows for selective removal of only the problematic area without cutting through healthy muscle tissue, achieving results comparable to major surgery. The advantages of endoscopic surgery include smaller incisions (only 0.5 cm), a shorter hospital stay (only one night) after treatment, and the need for lengthy physical therapy.
Comparison table of surgical cameras: Microscope and Endoscope.
Modern spinal surgery offers a variety of treatment options. The newer the surgical technology, the higher the cost, but the lower the surgical risks and post-operative injuries. Furthermore, you can return to your normal life more quickly after surgery because you don't need a long hospital stay.
📚 How should you behave after surgery?
With best wishes from S Spine and Joint Hospital, a specialized hospital for spine and joint care.
Information from
Dr. Chumpol Kakanant, a spine specialist.
S Spine and Joint Hospital
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