The spine supports the body and helps to stand, sit, bend, move, and spin. The spine, which protects the spinal cord from injury, extends from the base of the skull to lower end of the back. It is shaped like an “S”. It has 33 bones interconnected to each other.
These vertebrae are numbered and divided into four areas: cervical vertebrae (near the neck), thoracic vertebrae (upper back), lumbar vertebrae (lower back), sacrum (extreme lower back – connecting the spine to the hip), and also the tailbone coccyx of the spine. Only 24 of these bones move because the sacrum and tailbone are fused.
As the world is progressing fast we are observing technological progress in all areas of life. Spinal surgery has also shifted from primary incision / open surgery to minimally invasive microscopic spinal surgery, endoscopic surgery and keyhole surgery.
This modality, when carefully chosen for the right patient, ensures excellent results and a shorter hospital stay, along with shorter rest periods and quick return to work.
In this article, Dr K S Kiran explains about Spine problems and how keyhole spine surgery is helpful in treating spinal injuries.
A keyhole craniotomy is used to remove brain tumors. It’s a minimally invasive surgery that’s associated with less scarring and a shorter recovery time.
Lower Back Pain Treatment in Hyderabad by Dr K S Kiran, Top Spine Surgeon in Hyderabad
Spinal problems can occur due to injuries, tumours, infections, vertebral dislocation, and age-related issues such as intervertebral disc degeneration. Symptoms that indicate problems with your spine include constant back pain (up / down), neck pain, numbness in the legs and arms, and difficulty sitting, standing, or walking.
Spine surgery is divided into two types- conventional or open surgery and keyhole/ minimum access surgery to the spine. Certain spinal conditions such as intervertebral discs (compression) and tumours can be treated with keyhole spinal surgery or minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS).
Because the spinal cord and intervertebral nerve are located deep in the body, the spinal area to treat, muscle tissue must be removed out of the way to gain an approach for access to the spinal zone. These can be done by the use of small holes and directional instruments and tiny video cameras inserted through this minimal incision.
The incision resembles a keyhole and hence called a Keyhole procedure which is typically one inch long.
Keyhole spinal surgery is beneficial for some elder patient because there are far fewer problems associated with it. It is also helpful for overweight patients because the healing time is shorter, and they can start walking the next day.
The most common use of keyhole spinal surgery is to treat herniated discs that cause sciatic pain. In this case, the patient gets discharged on the same day or the day after surgery.