Zululand Spinal Centre of Excellence launched

In 2022, Life Empangeni Private Hospital played host to performing the first Unilateral Bi-portal Endoscopy (UBE) surgery in KwaZulu-Natal. UBE involves two portals, which allows for wider surgical vision than one-portal spinal endoscopy. The bi-portal approach has emerged as a significant innovation in endoscopic spine surgery. Two years later, Life Empangeni Private Hospital has now performed over 200 UBE cases, making our facility a premier base for UBE with our Spinal team of surgeons serving as proctors to specialists who have expressed interest in commencing these operations in various facilities across South Africa.

Zululand Spinal Centre of Excellence has opened its doors in Empangeni.

Spearheaded by three of the region’s best specialists, Zululand Spinal Centre of Excellence will offer patients the best in spinal surgery. Dr Sailesh Ragoo, Dr Kritish Timakia and Dr Neil van der Berg have joined forces, combining their expertise to bring the most advanced spinal treatments to Zululand.

Dr Ragoo is a well-versed Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon with 20 years’ experience in the field. Dr Timakia is a leading Neurosurgeon who specialises in conditions of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system, while Dr Van der Berg is a respected Orthopaedic Surgeon with a special interest in muskuloskeletal trauma & arthroplasty. Each adding his own individual expertise to this multidisciplinary team, the Zululand Spinal Centre of Excellence allows for complex procedures to be performed, which were previously unavailable in the region.

The team is especially looking forward to making life better for patients needing endoscopic spinal surgeries. Endoscopic spinal surgery is a nontraditional technique to operate on the spinal cord. It is a minimally invasive technique in which a tiny camera helps to guide the surgical team.

Whereas ‘traditional’ open spinal surgery holds several risks, endoscopic surgery has numerous advantages. Endoscopic spinal surgery can help relieve numerous spinal problems without the many potential complications and long recovery times associated with traditional surgical methods. With only a small incision made, the patient endures less trauma, reduced pain, faster healing and fewer post-operative complications.

The good news is that there is no age restriction – patients as young as 16 and as old as 92 have benefitted from the endoscopic procedures performed by this dynamic trio. Patients who, owing to their circumstances or physical health, would not qualify for open spinal surgery are able to undergo endoscopic surgery.

Drs Ragoo, Timakia and Van dar Berg have already seen a number of positive outcomes, with some patients showing remarkable recovery or improvement. Patients as far as Cape Town travel to Life Empangeni Private Hospital for a chance of restored mobility. Drs Ragoo, Timakia and Van der Berg have also successfully assisted a number of patients who have turned to them for revision treatment – where previous spinal surgeries performed had failed.

Realising the important role that good spinal health and mobility plays in a person’s quality of life, these specialists are passionate about helping people with back pain and debilitating spinal conditions. Zululand Spinal Centre of Excellence indeed offers a beacon of hope.

For any enquiries and bookings for the Zululand Spinal Centre, please contact 035 902 8171 or email amanda.thurston@lifehealthcare.co.za