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Spinal Decompression Abroad

Spinal Decompression Package Cost: 6,000 ~26,500 US Dollars
{Spinal Decompression quote covers all the medical & logistics costs at destination}

India [Harvard Medical Affiliated & USA JCI-Accredited Hospitals]
Spain [US Educated & Trained Surgeon]

Spinal decompression is a procedure to relieve pressure on the spine and help it to heal. The success of spinal decompression depends on the patient, the condition, and the skill of the surgeon.

Spinal Decompression in India and Mexico

Wear and tear or hereditary factors can cause the spinal canal to narrow, compressing the nerves inside it and causing pain. This condition is called spinal stenosis. Surgical decompression is recommended to relieve the symptoms of this condition, but only after all other treatments like physiotherapy, pain killers, anti-inflammatory medication, epidural steroid injection etc., have been tried and they haven’t worked.

If your back pain is because of spinal pressure, spinal decompression can help in lessening or totally getting rid of pain, depending on the severity of your condition.

Spinal decompression is most effective for lumbar back pain and neck pain. It is not the one-stop solution for pain in all areas of the spinal cord.

How is the spinal decompression surgery done?

Spinal decompression surgery is a general term that refers to procedures designed to relieve pressure or compression on the spinal cord and nerve roots. The various decompression methods are:

Diskectomy: Removes a part of a disc to take away pressure from nearby nerve roots.

Laminotomy or laminectomy: Removes some or all of the spinal canal or ‘lamina’. This is done to enhance the size of the spinal canal.

Foraminotomy or foraminectomy: Increases the size of the openings for the nerve roots to exit the spinal cord by removing some bone and tissue.

Osteophyte removal: Removes bony growths called osteophytes or bone spurs.

Corpectomy: Removes the body of a vertebra and the discs.

The surgical procedure is as follows:

  • Initially, a longitudinal or transverse incision is made in the lower front neck. The underlying musculature of the neck is carefully dissected. Retractors are placed to protect the soft tissues of the neck during the operation.
  • After the surgical level(s) have been confirmed by X-ray or fluoroscopy, inter-vertebral discs are removed at the level(s) to be decompressed. In some cases, only removing the abnormal discs is required.
  • If more than one level is to be decompressed and if big osteophytes are present, your surgeon may remove the vertebral bodies between the evacuated disc spaces.
  • Bone and disc are removed down to the level of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL), which overlies the dura.
  • After the spinal cord and nerve roots have been decompressed, the parts removed have to be re-built to support the normal load of the spine. This can be done either through bone grafts or longer ‘strut’ grafts which span the defect created while removing a vertebral body(ies). For the graft, either the patient’s own bone (autograft) or human cadaver bone (allograft), or a synthetic scaffold into which bone graft may be inserted (metal or carbon fiber cages) are used. Selection of the graft material depends on complex factors. You should discuss these issues in detail with your surgeon before the operation, as a lot depends on the bone graft.
  • Usually, the operated/grafted segments are held together with a titanium plate and screw device, which is secured to the remaining vertebral bodies at the margins of the corpectomy, providing greater stability.

Who qualifies for spinal decompression?

If you feel the following symptoms in your back, it could mean you have spinal nerve compression, which qualifies you for surgery (provided non-surgical treatments have been tried first).

  • Pain
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Weakness

Advantages of spinal decompression

Spinal decompression has two major benefits:

  1. Removes the factor causing spinal cord compression.
  2. Stabilizes the spine by way of a fusion, avoiding further degenerative changes at the operated levels.

Disadvantages or risks of spinal decompression

When you suffer from chronic pain, a procedure which promises to alleviate the pain will appeal to you. However, you need to be aware of the risks or complications involved in a major surgery like spinal decompression.

The result of the surgery depends on the severity of spinal compression, with more advanced cases having a poorer prognosis.

The risks associated with spinal decompression surgery are:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Blood clots
  • Nerve or tissue damage
  • Allergic reaction to anesthesia
  • Bone graft/fusion failure, leading to repeat surgery. Reasons for failure of bone graft/fusion can be: a) more levels to be fused, b) smoking or other sources of nicotine, c) patient non-compliance with activity restriction or brace wear, d) weak bones (osteoporosis), e) some medications, f) malnutrition, etc.
  • Hemorrhage
  • Damage to the carotid or vertebral artery resulting in a stroke or excessive bleeding, even death
  • Hoarseness
  • Disturbance in swallowing
  • Mechanical complications of the plate (breakage of the plate, screw pullout, etc.)
  • Weakness, paralysis, loss of sensation, loss of bowel or bladder function, impaired sexual function, etc.

In some cases, the back pain may not reduce significantly. It is difficult to say how well spinal decompression will work for each patient.

How to prepare for spinal decompression

Collect information about the surgery by talking to the surgeon in detail. Spinal surgery is a major procedure and it is important that you understand the methodology and the outcomes as accurately as possible. This will help to have realistic expectations from the surgery.

Post-operative care for spinal decompression

Your health professional will give you a detailed list of the precautions and care you have to take after spinal decompression, but here’s a summary:

  • Stay positive. In the first few days after surgery, you may feel dejected and tired. These feelings can be a result of the extra hormones your body produced to handle the stress of surgery.

  • Sticking to a long program of physical therapy is mandatory. Walking is a very good exercise, but do not overstrain yourself. Pain is a signal to stop or go slow.

  • Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.

  • Take several short rests in the day. If lying flat, place a small pillow or rolled up towel under the small of your back. The best positions for resting are on one side.
  • Your doctor will tell you when you can get back to work and the amount of work you can do.
  • Driving is permitted only after full recovery and when you do not feel any pain. Do not drive when taking pain medication.
  • Reduce your pain medication slowly while recovering at home. You can do this by spacing out the pills further and then by reducing the number taken each time.
  • Adopt a balanced diet and try not to put on weight, as more weight will mean more strain on the lower back.
  • If you see too much redness, swelling, or any drainage around the incision after leaving the hospital, contact your doctor immediately.

Low cost spinal decompression in India and Spain

The cost of spinal decompression in India and Spain is a fraction of what you will have to pay out in the US. With medical costs skyrocketing in the US, often many people hesitate to go for complicated procedures like spinal decompression. But with medical tourism becoming a booming and established business in India and Spain, more and more patients suffering from back pain can seek a solution.

Related spine surgery links:

Low Cost Spinal Disk Replacement Overseas

Spine Fusion Overseas

Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates affordable spinal decompression surgery in India and Spain. Fill out the free estimate request form for a free quote & more information.
