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Waterfall news
discoVer the real
truth Behind
sPine surgeries
Many people have been told to
By Dr Jaytesh Pillay, Orthopaedic & ‘never have spine surgery’, however
Spine Surgeon at Waterfall, Netcare
Waterfall City Hospital in the hands of a trained spinal
specialist, this is far from the truth.
s o, your doctor has recommended spine • This also means there is less pain and faster recovery times.
• Patients are made to move immediately after
surgery - what does that mean? Many people
surgery, eliminating debilitating bed rest.
subscribe to the antiquated thought that spine
surgeries are accompanied by long recovery • Multidisciplinary teams work together
times and pain after surgery. This is no longer true. to ensure successful outcomes.
In this article, we cover some of the Modern surgical techniques
misconceptions about spine surgery and discover The era of modern spine surgery began in
more modern, advanced techniques. the last 15 - 20 years and the technology has
changed the way doctors perform surgeries.
What are the MisconcePtions?
• Spine surgery always fails. some examples of modern techniques include:
• One spine surgery always leads to another.
• You should never have spine surgery. Minimally invasive techniques
• The chances of complications and paralysis These techniques involve doing spine surgery with
are high in spine surgeries. smaller incisions, thereby reducing damage to muscles
• You have to rest in bed for 6 weeks after a spine surgery. and surrounding tissue, and reducing pain and infections,
leading to a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery.
These misconceptions often arise from anecdotal accounts
from family and friends, stereotypes and unindicated endoscopic spinal surgery
surgery leading to unintended complications. In this procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions,
approximately 1cm, and performs spine surgery
What is the reality? using a tiny camera. This means surgery can be
• Spine surgery can be very successful. performed safely with less pain and faster recovery.
• Surgery is often life changing - improving
a patient’s quality of life. At Netcare Waterfall City Hospital we recently performed
• Modern surgical techniques and state-of-the-art an Endoscopic Spine Surgery, the first of its kind at Netcare,
technology make spine surgery safe and effective. using a camera and making an incision of only 1cm.
20 Waterfall Issue 2 2020
