Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery in India - the Benefits


The availability of lumbar disc replacement surgery in India is a boon for patients suffering from chronic pain in their lower back. This surgery is a new and innovative treatment for patients who have found no respite from non-surgical methods such as pain medication, back brace, or physiotherapy.
Low cost coupled with high quality medical treatments makes undergoing orthopedic procedures such as anterior hip replacement in India an economically practicable solution, especially for the Americans and the Canadians. Each year, thousands of patients from the first world countries flock to India for revision hip replacement and myriad other orthopedic surgeries. Stem cell treatment for orthopedic diseases in India finds a lot of takers in people from countries where stem cell therapy is banned. 



Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery 

Degenerative disc disease leads to the wearing away of the disc or cushion between the vertebrae or spinal bones. These discs minimize the impact caused by movement on the spinal column. When they degenerate, they cause localized pain in the affected area. Degeneration of discs in the lumbar area or the lower back causes lumbago. 

Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the USA, lumbar disc replacement or spinal disc replacement surgery involves the replacement of worn away discs with artificial ones. Patients who have at least two degenerated discs that cause pain, loss of sensation in the legs or buttocks, and difficulty in walking, are good candidates for lumbar disc replacement surgery. Such patients should not be overweight and should not have had any previous surgery in the lumbar area.

Benefits of Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery in India

Patients who have found other treatments unsuccessful are often recommended spinal surgery as a last resort. Such patients can opt for spinal surgery abroad as they can be assured of quality healthcare at an affordable price. India is a destination favored by such patients as it has several hospitals that are accredited by the Joint Commission International, ISO and the NABH. These hospitals in India are renowned for their state of the art facilities and world class infrastructure. They adhere strictly to international standards of infection control and clinical care, and have the best surgical teams available in the country on their staff. The low cost of living in India makes the facilities offered in Indian hospitals affordable. Along with the fees of spine surgeons, the cost of medication is also low. 

A study carried out by Patrick Tropiano, Russel C Huang, Federico P Girardi and Thierry Marnay suggests that lumbar disc replacement surgery is preferable to spinal fusion surgery in the treatment of degenerative disc disease. This is because the risks such as postoperative orthoses and junctional degeneration are eliminated if spinal fusion surgery is carried out. Lumbar disc replacement surgery in India is a good option for medical tourists who wish to get rid of persistent lower back pain at an affordable price. 

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