| India will with no doubt become the global health | | | | Advantages of Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy |
| destination. With prices at a fraction (sometimes only 1 | | | | surgery: |
| 10th!) of those in the US or EU, the concept has broad | | | | The primary advantage of this procedure is that there |
| consumer appeal – if people can overcome their | | | | is no interference with the muscles, bones, joints or |
| prejudices about health care in developing countries. | | | | manipulation of the nerves in the mid-back area. Since |
| The reality is that Indian private facilities offer | | | | insertion of the micro-instruments through the skin and |
| advanced technology and high-quality procedures on | | | | muscle is the only wound, there is no scarring in or |
| par with hospitals in developed nations. India is the | | | | around the nerves postoperatively. Additionally, it is an |
| leading country promoting medical tourism in the world. | | | | outpatient procedure. A small percentage of patients |
| It is even moving into a new area of "medical | | | | are not relieved of their pain with this procedure. There |
| outsourcing" where subcontractors aim to provide | | | | is much less risk of complications from performing |
| services to the overburdened medical care systems in | | | | percutaneous discectomy than the conventional |
| western countries. Medical tourism to India is growing | | | | discectomy surgery. Other advantages of the |
| by 30% a year and the Indian education system is | | | | Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy surgery are as |
| churning out an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 doctors | | | | below: |
| and nurses each year. India benefits from a large staff | | | | ·Surgery done under local anesthesia with conscious |
| of world-class experts and the ultra-competitive cost | | | | sedation ·5mm skin incision ·Endoscope used for |
| advantage it offers. While a heart surgery costs | | | | surgery ·No muscle, ligament or normal tissue |
| $60,000 in the US, it costs $8,000 in India. Similarly, a | | | | damage ·Targeted fragmentectomy (Directly |
| bone marrow transplant costs $16,000 in India | | | | prolapsed disc tissue removed.) ·Minimal blood loss |
| compared to $250,000 in the US. You can add to this | | | | ·Patient can be discharged in 24 Hrs. ·No prolonged |
| that Indian doctors are among the best in the world. | | | | bed rest required after surgery. Can resume work |
| What is Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy? | | | | sooner. ·Even prolapsed, migrated, extra-foraminal, |
| Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) | | | | recurrent discs can be removed. Very good technique |
| is a new technique for the decompression of the | | | | for old and medically compromised patients. |
| lumbar disc space and removal of nucleus pulposus | | | | Post-operative course for Percutaneous Lumbar |
| via a posterolateral approach. The method is indicated | | | | Discectomy: |
| in patients with non-equestrated lumbar disc herniation | | | | The patient may feel relief from pain immediately |
| with an intact lorsal longitudinal ligament. Percutaneous | | | | following the procedure. This is an outpatient |
| endoscopic lumbar discectomy is the ultimate form of | | | | procedure. Walking and mild exercise are usually |
| minimal invasive spine surgery. In this form of surgery, | | | | encouraged on the same day. Some patients |
| an instrument called Endoscope is used. Whole | | | | experience mild muscle spasms that can generally be |
| surgery is done under local anesthesia and patient is | | | | relieved with mild analgesics. Pain in the area of the |
| fully awake during surgery. In fact for successful | | | | operation is usually minimal. From the day of discharge, |
| surgery patient’s active participation is necessary. | | | | a daily exercise program is recommended. There is a |
| Who Should Consider the Percutaneous Lumbar | | | | re-evaluation examination several days later. Little, if |
| Discectomy Surgery? | | | | any, postoperative medication is required for most |
| Percutaneous lumbar discectomy is specifically | | | | patients. Normal activities can usually be resumed at |
| designed for patients with uncomplicated, herniated | | | | the doctor’s discretion within a few days to two |
| disks accompanied by the following: | | | | weeks. |
| 1.Pain radiating from the neck or back downward to | | | | Outcome of Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy |
| the limbs | | | | surgery: |
| 2.Symptoms including sensory loss, tingling, numbness, | | | | 85-90% of appropriately selected patients have good |
| and muscle weakness | | | | outcomes, with improved pain. Leg pain is improved |
| 3.A positive CT or MRI scan for disk herniation | | | | more consistently than low back pain. |
| 4.No improvement of symptoms after six to eight | | | | Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy in India: |
| weeks of conservative therapy | | | | The advanced medical treatments available in India |
| 5.Positive electromyogram study is helpful. | | | | have made it a popular destination for medical tours. |
| The Procedure of Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy | | | | People, who cannot afford the cost of spine surgeries |
| surgery: | | | | in the West, or patients from underdeveloped |
| The procedure is performed under local anesthesia | | | | countries, where advanced medical facilities are not |
| with the patient awake and in a prone or lateral | | | | available, head for the super specialty hospitals in India |
| position. A small needle is inserted into the disk for | | | | to avail the cost effective and quality treatments |
| discography, and is followed by insertion of a slightly | | | | offered. At the Joint Commission International |
| larger metal tube or sleeve. | | | | accredited Hospitals in India, the Department of Neuro |
| Through the sleeve, a small incision is made in the disk | | | | and Spine Surgery offers the latest in craniotomy, |
| itself. Using x-ray control, the micro-instruments | | | | sphenoid operations, treatments for brain and neck |
| (forceps, curettes and cutters), the Discectome (which | | | | tumors and lesions, and more. Indian Hospital provides |
| is a hollow probe with a cutting knife inside) and the | | | | comprehensive medical and surgical care for patients |
| laser probe are inserted into the disk space through | | | | with disorders of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral |
| the sleeve. The disk material is removed or vaporized, | | | | nervous system. Both invasive and non-invasive |
| and the disk bulge is shrunken further by laser. The | | | | procedures for treating back, neck pain and correcting |
| procedure takes about 30 minutes, on average. X-ray | | | | spinal deformities are deployed. |
| exposure is minimal. | | | | In India the latest techniques like minimally invasive spine |
| The supporting structure of the disk is not affected. | | | | surgery, percutaneous lumbar discectomy are routinely |
| Upon completion, the needle is removed and a small | | | | carried out with results at par with the best centers |
| band-aid is applied over the tiny incision. | | | | globally. |