In a remarkable case at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital, a young software engineer’s battle against a spinal cord tumor took an extraordinary turn with the application of a groundbreaking surgical technique. The hospital’s esteemed Neurosurgical team, armed with their expertise and cutting-edge technology, employed minimally invasive keyhole surgery to usher him towards a remarkable recovery.
Spinal cord tumors present daunting challenges, and conventional open surgeries come with inherent risks. However, the advent of minimalutionized the field, emerging as a beacon of hope for patients confronted with this formidable diagnosis.
The keyhole surgery approach involves making small incisions in the skin and utilizing specialized instruments to precisely remove the tumor. This advanced technique offers patients faster recovery times, reduced blood loss, lower risk of infection and most importantly the stability of the spine is preserved compared to the traditional open surgery.
Dr. Naveen M.A., Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon & Head, Minimal access Brain & Spine Surgeon at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital, elaborated on the significance of this breakthrough: “By adopting the minimally invasive keyhole surgery technique, we can now remove spinal cord tumors with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. Our patients benefit from shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and reduced post-operative pain.”
Illustrating the success of this approach is a recent case study involving a young male patient, a software engineer by profession, who presented with persistent low back pain radiating to both legs. Accompanying the pain were numbness and tingling sensations in his right leg, symptoms that had persisted for the past two months. Following an extensive clinical & radiological evaluation, MRI of the spine revealed a 2 to 3.5 cm intradural extramedullary spinal lesion at L3-4 level.
Given the patient’s condition, the Neurosurgical team at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital determined that minimally invasive spine surgery, utilizing the tubular retractor system, was the optimal approach. This advanced technique offered numerous advantages, including smaller incisions, preservation of muscle integrity, reduced blood loss and minimal post-operative pain.
On May 8th, 2023, the keyhole surgery was performed with resounding success. The surgical team deftly navigated the intricacies of minimally invasive spine surgery, leveraging their expertise and state-of-the-art technologies such as Neuronavigation and intraoperative ultrasound. Astonishingly, the patient was discharged just two days after the surgery, and within a week, he confidently returned to work, free from any neurological deficits.
“We take great pride in our achievement of performing the largest series of spinal cord tumor removal surgeries using minimally invasive techniques in Karnataka,” expressed Dr. Naveen M.A. “At BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital, our dedicated team is committed to delivering the highest standard of care and utilizing the latest advancements in neuro-spine surgery to provide our patients with exceptional outcomes.”
As the field of neuro-spine surgery continues to evolve, the adoption of keyhole surgery is rapidly gaining popularity due to its significant benefits. This less invasive and highly precise approach to spinal cord tumor removal offers faster recovery times, reduced complications, and improved patient satisfaction.
In conclusion, keyhole surgery, also known as minimally invasive spine surgery, stands as a promising and transformative approach for spinal cord tumor excision. Its advantages, including reduced post-operative pain, minimal muscle dissection, preserving spine stability, and improved clinical outcomes, bring new hope to patients facing this challenging condition. With the growing popularity of this technique, more practitioners are expected to transition to keyhole surgery, setting a new standard for spinal cord tumor treatment.
