Spinal surgery breakthrough for KZN

Nurses and doctors applauded in awe as they watched the first endoscopic spinal surgery patient get out of bed and walk mere hours post-surgery in KZN last week.

Simbithi resident and founder of Q-Surgical in Umhlanga, Hannes Joubert said they are the only company in the country that can do this new procedure.

“Spinal surgery has until recently been performed as open surgery.

“Traditional lumbar surgery required a large cut, dissecting the supportive muscles, tissue and ligaments, which required a long recovery period and a lot of pain including three days in ICU, seven days in hospital and about 49 days of physio and rest before the patient could go back to work,” said Joubert who is a surgical technician.

Now, herniated discs and spinal stenosis (the degenerative narrowing of the spinal canal) can be fixed with a much less invasive keyhole surgery and the patient can go back to work the next day.

“With the endoscopic spinal surgery, the patient is awake as only a local anesthetic is necessary. This lowers the risk of the surgery substantially, as the patient continuously gives feedback regarding nerve monitoring. Not having to undergo full anesthetic also means the surgery is safe for all groups of patients.”

Joubert said this German technology has been used successfully overseas for a couple of years.

“Surgeons have to go for a week-long intensive training for the endoscopic spinal surgery in Germany. We have performed this procedure with two surgeons in Johannesburg and now for the first time in KZN with Dr RT Islam, assisted by Dr L Oelofse from Johannesburg.”

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The 49-year-old patient, Thabani Madonsela said he will never forget the moment he could walk pain free.

“I have been suffering with back and leg pain for about four years now.

“Straight after the operation, I could stand up and felt completely pain-free. It was a big moment for me,” said Madonsela, who is a court interpretor at the Durban Magistrate Court.

He said he joined the Herniated Disc Support Group page on Facebook and posted the photos of the surgery, which recieved countless messages from people from all over the world wanting the same procedure.

“I am so grateful to Hannes for his help and for bringing this technology to SA. He is a fantastic person and has helped me live a pain-free, active life again.”

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