AL AIN – A 60 YEAR OLD UNDERGOES NOVEL DISK SURGERY
A 60 YEAR OLD PATIENT UNDERGOES SURGERY FOR DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE FOLLOWING A NOVEL APPROACH
Ain Hospital complaining of severe lower back pain and difficulty with mobility. The patient had been suffering from stubborn low back pain and left lower leg pain that had continued to worsen over several years.
Thorough investigations using advanced technologies revealed the presence of degenerative disc disease that required surgical intervention to relieve the patient from the continuous pain he was experiencing.
Previous nonsurgical interventions unfortunately did not provide significant or satisfying pain relief. The conservative treatment included 12 weeks of physical therapy, over the counter anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants.
Dr. Waseem Aziz, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Mediclinic Al Ain Hospital, performed a minimally invasive surgery using an advanced approach whilst the patient was lying down in one single position, known as single prone lateral approach.
“Usually surgical access to the affected discs in the lower spinal area requires the patient to lie down in two different positions, firstly in a side-lying position and later into the surgery the patient is turned in the prone position, lying face down to treat the affected area.” Said Dr. Aziz.
He added: “What we did differently this time around, is that we managed to achieve the same desired outcomes in a single position without having to turn the patient during surgery. The patient was positioned from the very beginning in the prone position, lying face down”.
“This technique comes with various advantages for the patient and surgeon which includes decreasing the physiological impact, as turning the patient may pose some health risks such as possible damage to the nerves, facilitating surgical ergonomics as well as reducing the operative time.
The patient was discharged in good health post-surgery, completely relieved from the pain he had been complaining about and he has resumed his normal life.
