Ninety-minute operation saves patient from 11 years of walking in pain

Hoang Son, 43, from Ho Chi Minh City, was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation in the L3L4 - L4L5 vertebrae.

Despite being recommended for spinal surgery 11 years ago, Son chose to endure the pain because he was concerned about living with screw braces and artificial discs, and the risk of complications that could have caused him to lose the ability to walk.

Eleven years passed and the patient's condition worsened. The pain started in his back and gradually spread to his legs. As the doctors predicted, he almost lost the ability to walk, which seriously affected his work, income, and quality of life.

Endoscopic spine surgery takes in just 90 minutes

Following a friend’s recommendation, Son decided to visit Hoan My Orthopaedic and Spine Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, where he had direct consultations with Dr. Kim Thanh Tri, head of the Neurosurgery-Spine Unit.

Tri ordered immediate surgery because Son’s condition was becoming critical.

Instead of the open spinal discectomy method, which involves large incisions, high blood loss, large surgical scars, a long recovery time, and the risk of complications due to infection, the doctor recommended endoscopic spine surgery.

This minimally invasive approach uses smaller incisions with lower risk of complications.

However, this is a new technique that not all doctors are familiar with. Therefore, patients need to choose reputable hospitals with teams of highly experienced specialists to ensure the best treatment.

Thanks to the thorough consultation and the removal of psychological barriers, Son decided to have the procedure.

In only 90 minutes, doctors from the Neurosurgery-Spine Unit at the centre successfully performed endoscopic surgery.

Just a day later, Son was able to get out of bed for light exercise, and he was discharged the following day.

Dr. Tri revealed that a herniated disc in the lumbar spine compresses the nerves, causing the patient to feel numb or pain. This compression also makes the patient susceptible to weakness in the limbs that causes mobility difficulties.

“Despite this, many patients are reluctant about having spinal surgery, which leads to delays in treatment. As a result, their pain becomes more severe and causes significant inconvenience to their lives,” said Tri.

Tri recommended patients who experience pain or discomfort in the spine to see a doctor immediately.

Dr. Kim Thanh Tri, Head of Neurosurgery - Spine Unit at Hoan My Orthopaedics and Spine Centre advises patients coming for the examination

This allows for accurate diagnosis and advice on appropriate treatment methods. In particular, patients need to adhere to the treatment regimen and avoid delaying treatment just because of concerns about post-surgery complications. Prolonging treatment can make the condition more serious.

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