Spine Surgery in India: Fix Your Back Bone at Low Costs
Getting a major surgery in a foreign country can be a difficult decision. Spine surgery in India offers you quality treatment at affordable prices. This post discusses various back bone surgeries & costs in India.
Read on!
Spine Surgery in India Review
When Do Doctors Recommend Spine Surgery?
Your doctor may suggest spine surgery if you have severe back pain or leg pain due to slipped, prolapsed, bulging or herniated disc.
Herniated Disc
- Spine surgery or back bone surgery is usually the last resort to alleviate the pain that is not improving with non-surgical methods.[1]
- Certain symptoms may also indicate an urgent need for spine surgery. These may include sudden bowel or bladder incontinence, severe and continuous abdominal and back pain, and tingling or numbness in arms or legs.
- Spine surgery can be an expensive procedure. If you do not need an emergency spine surgery, you can consider getting the surgery in India.
How Much Does Spine Surgery Cost in India?
Spinal surgery cost in India may vary between $5,000 to $27,000 (in USD). The cost depends on the patient’s situation and the number of vertebrae levels in which surgery is needed.
| Spine Surgery Type | India Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Spinal Fusion (One Level) | $6,500 - $7,800 |
| Discectomy / Foraminotomy | $8,600 |
| Laminectomy/ Laminotomy without Fusion | $8,600 |
| Computer-assisted Lumbar Laminectomy and Posterior Fusion | Depends on case |
| Computer-assisted Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF/MIS TLIF) | Depends on case |
| Laminectomy with Discectomy | $7,150 |
| Microdiscectomy | $8,450 |
| Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) | $7,500 - $9,000 |
| Radiofrequency Rhizotomy | $5,300 |
| Selective Nerve Root Block (SNRB) | $5,300 |
| Cervical Fusion | $6,000 - $7,200 |
| Scoliosis | $14,000 - $24,000 |
Should You Get Spine Surgery in India?
JCI and NABH Accredited Hospital
We work with a leading JCI and NABH accredited hospital in India. These accreditations mean that the hospital is devoted to providing quality care and high patient satisfaction.
Affordable Spine Surgery
Medical treatments in India are not just cost-effective and are also of superior quality.[2]
Here's an interview of our happy patient from the UK, Mr. Ian Beckett. Hit the play button & find out why he chose spine surgery in India.
Why spine surgery in India?
Travel Process is Simple
It is easy to get medical visa in India. You can even apply for a medical visa online. Friends or family traveling with the patient can get medical attendent visa.
Minimal Language Barrier
English is a widely spoken language in India, so there won’t be any language barrier for those from the English-speaking countries. Our partner hospitals can also arrange for language interpreters, if requested in advance.
Highly Qualified Doctors
Our partner spine surgeons have successfully performed a wide range of spinal surgery procedures to treat herniated disc, degenerative disc, and other back bone problems.
Below is the video interview of one of our partner spine surgeons, Dr. Sajan Hegde
Spine Surgeon- Dr. Sajan Hegde
Types of Spine Surgeries in India
Spinal Fusion
The cost of spinal surgery in India depends on the patient's case. For Cervical Spinal Fusion, the cost may range from US $6,000 to $7,200. Lower back spinal fusion cost may vary on case to case basis.
You can email your medical reports and xrays to your MTC case manager to get a cost estimate.
Spinal Fusion surgeries aim at providing stability to the spine. To do this, the surgeon fuses two or more vertebrae in the spine. This prevents movement in the painful segment of the spine.
Your doctor may recommend spinal fusion to relieve pain due to Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) or Spondylosis, Spondylothesis, or Herniated Disc.[3]
Depending on the problem, you may need a spinal fusion in lumbar(lower back) or cervical regions(neck) of the spine.
Post-Surgery X-Ray of Spinal Fusion Surgery
Discectomy (Lumbar Discectomy)
Also called, herniated disc repair, Discectomy is done to relieve pain caused by herniated or damaged disc. In India, Discectomy surgery cost is about $8,600.
In this procedure, the surgeon makes a one-inch incision to remove the herniated or damaged disc, as a result, pressure on the spinal nerve is released.[4]
Lumbar Discectomy in Delhi, India: A Minimally Invasive Solution
Endoscopic Discectomy
Endoscopic Discectomy less invasive procedure than Discectomy.
Endoscopic Discectomy - Spine Surgery in India
Here, the size of incision is smaller and the surgery causes less scarring. The surgeon will insert a special camera (anthroscope) through a small incision to see the damaged disc and remove some portion of it.[5]
Microdiscectomy
Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgery for sciatica and slipped disc(herniated disc). In India, Microdiscectomy may cost you between $7,500 to $9,000.
Your doctor may recommend this surgery if you experience severe pain in leg and have not got relief from non-surgical treatments.
During the surgery, the surgeon removes some part of the damaged disk with a small incision. This releases the pressure on the spinal nerve root and provides relief from pain.[6]
Most patients report instant relief from leg pain after Microdiscectomy surgery.
Foraminotomy
Foraminotomy surgery cost in India is about $8,600 It is a minimally invasive surgery used to treat Spinal Stenosis, which usually occurs in the lower back.
The purpose of the surgery is to free the space around a spinal nerve. In this procedure, your surgeon will remove some bone that is obstructing the passageway of a spinal nerve root.
This surgery relieves the pressure on compressed nerves.[7]
Video Credit: Atlantic Spine Center
In some cases, your surgeon may need to do Laminectomy procedure along with Foraminotomy to clear the passageway for the spinal nerve.
Laminectomy and Laminotomy
Laminectomy is the removal of Lamina and Laminotomy is the partial removal of Lamina (protective covering of spinal canal). Both are done to remove pressure on a pressed spinal nerve.
As per your case, your surgeon may perform either Laminectomy or Laminotomy to gain access to a compressed nerve in the spine.
Depending on your case, Laminectomy or Laminotomy may be accompanied with other spinal surgery procedures.[8]
Post-Surgery Care and Precautions
What Is the Recovery Time for Back Bone Surgery?
Recovery time depends on the type of surgery you had and may vary as per your case.
- Recovery from Discectomy and Foraminotomy may take 1 - 4 weeks.
- For Laminectomy and Fusion, it may take at least 4 months to recover. Your bones will continue to heal for at least a year.
- For Spinal Fusion, recovery may take 4 to 6 weeks.[9]
How To Take Care of Myself After Spine Surgery?
During the recovery period, it is normal to feel numbness, pain, and weakness in areas that the pressed nerve served during the recovery period. You may also feel pain and swelling in the area of incision for 7 to 10 days.
Here are some precautionary measures your surgeon may advice.
- Avoid driving for at least 2 weeks post-surgery.
- Avoid lifting heavy weight, bending, twisting or turning, and climbing, for over six weeks after surgery.
- Smoking and alcohol slow down the healing process and should be avoided.
- Discuss with your surgeon before you engage in any strenuous activities like climbing stairs, walking for long distances, or cleaning.
- Consult your doctor if you experience fever above 101°F, drainage from wound, loss of bowel movements, or if you do not get any relief from pain with pain prescription.[9]
Also, six weeks after the surgery, your surgeon may put you on a physical therapy and exercise program to ensure speedy recovery and strength.
It is important for the patients to follow all the lifestyle changes recommended by the surgeon, to make their spinal surgery a success.
Travel Info for India
Here are the flight duration from various countries to India.
| City | Flight Duration |
|---|---|
| Nairobi, Kenya (IATA: NBO) | 9 - 11 hours |
| Abuja, Nigeria (IATA: ABV) | 14 - 16 hours |
| Lilongwe, Malawi (IATA: LLW) | 13 - 15 hours |
| Dodoma, Tanzania (IATA: DOD) | 18 - 20 hours |
| Accra, Ghana (IATA: ACC) | 14 - 17 hours |
| Cape Town, South Africa (IATA: CPT) | 14 - 17 hours |
| Khartoum, Sudan (IATA: KRT) | 14 - 17 hours |
| City | Flight Duration |
|---|---|
| New York (IATA: JFK) | 14 - 17 hours |
| San Francisco (IATA: SFO) | 16 - 20 hours |
| Seattle (IATA: SEA) | 22 - 24 hours |
| Los Angeles (IATA: LAX) | 21 - 23 hours |
| San Diego (IATA: SAN) | 19 - 22 hours |
| Miami (IATA: MIA) | 18 - 21 hours |
| Phoenix (IATA: PHX) | 18 - 21 hours |
| City | Flight Duration |
|---|---|
| Baghdad (IATA: BGW) | 5 hours |
| Abu Dhabi (IATA: AUH) | 3 - 4 hours |
| Dubai (IATA: DXB) | 3 hours |
| City | Flight Duration |
|---|---|
| Melbourne (IATA: MEL) | 15- 17 hours |
| Sydney (IATA: SYD) | 12 - 16 hours |
| City | Flight Duration |
|---|---|
| Moscow (IATA: SVO) | 6 - 10 hours |
| Saint Petersburg(IATA: LED) | 8 - 11 hours |
| Baku, Azerbaijan(IATA: GYD) | 7 - 10 hours |
FAQs for Spine Surgery India
Difference Between Invasive and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive spine surgeries (MISS) cause less damage to muscles and other structures surrounding the site of surgery.
In these surgeries, surgeon makes a few small incisions instead of one large incision. Another benefit of these surgeries is reduced scarring.
You may need to stay in the hospital for 4 - 8 days depending on your surgery. We recommend staying back in India for at least a week so that it is easy to address any potential problems.
- Decompression surgeries in India cost between US $7,000 to $9,000.
- Spinal decompression surgeries are targeted at removing pressure on spinal nerve roots.
- They include discectomy, laminectomy, laminotomy, corpectomy, and foraminotomy.
- A long flight can increase the chance of clotting.
- To prevent poor circulation and clotting during flight, you can stand, stretch, and walk down your plane aisle.
- Drink sufficient amount of water to avoid dehydration.
- You can also wear graduated compression stockings as they promote blood circulation in legs.[10]
- Lastly, discuss with your doctor and your airlines about your travel plans.
- Discuss with your local doctor if you are fit to travel by air.
- Email your relevant medical reports to your MTC case manager, who will share them with our partner doctor in India.
- Our partner doctor will review your case closely and recommend a treatment plan. On this basis, we will send you a cost estimate.
- If you approve the treatment, we will send you the medical visa invitation letter necessary to get medical visa.
References
- AAOS: Spinal Fusion
- Fortune Business Insights: Medical Tourism Market Size, Industry Share and Growth Rate
- Spine Health: Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery
- ScienceDirect: Discectomy - an overview
- ISRCTN: Endoscopic discectomy versus microdiscectomy
- Spine-Health: How Microdiscectomy Surgery Is Performed
- Spine Universe: Laminotomy versus Laminectomy
- MedicinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Foraminotomy
- MedicinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Spine Surgery - discharge
- NHS: When can I fly after surgery?
