A minimal–invasive surgery helped a business analyst with severe spine fracture to recover in two days, which normally would have meant 12 days of hospitalisation and two months of post–op recovery.

Sachin Kumar (name changed) fell from a mezzanine floor while cleaning the windows of his rented house in Pimple Saudagar on February 27. He was rushed within an hour to Aditya Birla memorial hospital.

Due to disabling pain in the back and legs, he found it difficult to walk or move. His spinal injury and curve were successfully corrected by spine consultant Amol Rege through a twohour long surgery. Kumar was able to walk the next day and travel by train to his hometown Hyderabad on the third day. He was back to Pune in two weeks and could soon resume work.

Rege, while speaking to media persons, said, “This was a case of severe spine fracture, and there was no way to correct it without surgery.” Rege, on realising the risks in the traditional surgery, decided to perform the advanced spine surgery procedure to correct the fractured spine.

Enumerating the advantages of this surgery, Rege said, “The advantages of this minimal invasive spinal surgery technique over traditional open surgery include no large scars on the back, only smaller incisions (slits), a shorter hospital stay, reduced post–operative pain, less blood loss, a shorter recovery time and reduced risk of infection.”

He added: “The technique is useful in spine fractures, degenerative disc conditions requiring spinal fusion, spondylolisthesis, wherein there is slippage of one vertebra over other, resulting in back and leg pain. This is an example of how technology is changing the management of spinal conditions for patient benefit.”

This surgery involves ‘sextant rod insertion system surgical technique’. Small incisions are required to reach the spinal column instead of the large cuts in the traditional methods. “During recovery period, the patient is restricted from bending forward and sitting on the floor. After two months, he would be able to lead a normal life without any physical restrictions,” Rege said.

Kumar said, “I stay in Pimple Saudagar, with friends in a rented house where the accident occurred. My friends rushed me to the hospital. I did not expect to recover so fast from the surgery. I was able to stand and walk slowly on the second day of surgery. I was discharged from the hospital on fifth day of admission.”