The city based Manipal Specialty Hospital, Rajarajeshwari Nagar on Sunday, conducted a live ‘Minimal Invasive Fusion (MNF) surgery workshop for doctors.

Dr Subodh Shetty, Spine Surgeon at Manipal Speciality Hospital said MNF is a new kind of surgery adopted by doctors and is quite common nowadays.

Also known as ‘percutaneous surgery', this method of surgical operation is performed by the help of a small incision and using a microscope and several long, thin, rigid instruments through these small artificial incisions ('keyhole surgery'). In comparison to the usual, open surgery, there exist several advantages for the patient- less pain, small cosmetic scars and faster recovery.

The spine fusion is aimed at alleviating pain that is believed to originate from a motion segment in the spine. For some patients, it may be recommended to have a spine fusion surgery performed in both the front and back of the spine in an effort to provide extra stability for the painful motion segment. Use of a minimally invasive spinal fusion system is fast developing as an alternate to the conventional open method. Dr Shetty added that in cases where the spine is unstable or deformed or degenerated or fractured, there is a need for fusion of the spine also called as stabilisation of spine. This done by is passing of screws and rods into the spine bones. Previously this procedure was done by opening the spine using at least 15 cms incision. But now with this technique, the procedure is done by 4 to 6 small incisions at the site where the rod and screws enter the bone.

Dr Subodh Shetty, Spine Surgeon at Manipal Specialty Hospital and Dr Hee Hwan Tak, National University Hospital, Singapore, conducted this live workshop with the main intention of spreading awareness of minimal invasive spine fusion surgery among the doctors and people across Karnataka. More than 100 doctors from Karnataka and neighbouring states were present in this live surgery workshop.

What is spine fusion

The minimally invasive spine fusion surgery is required to use a needle, which is inserted through small incisions in the back, and radiographic magnified images of the spine are projected onto television screens in the operating room. Narrow surgical instruments are then inserted into the small (1 to 1 ½ cm) incisions to complete the operation.

The goals of minimally invasive spine fusion surgery systems include reduced postoperative pain,  diminished blood loss, faster recovery and reduced hospital stay and smaller scars.