Endoscopic spine surgery brings new life to elderly patients

Duc Giang General Hospital has just successfully performed surgery on patient Nguyen Van Tr. (91 years old, residing in Viet Hung, Long Bien, Hanoi). Mr. Tr. has had continuous and increasing pain in his lumbar spine for the past 2 months, his right leg is gradually weakening, he cannot lift his leg up and has to lie in bed all day to relieve the pain.

Previously, Mr. Tr had 3 coronary artery stents placed, used anticoagulants for many years, had diabetes, high blood pressure, bronchial asthma and several other underlying diseases.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tr, 91 years old, recovers after endoscopic spinal surgery.

MRI results showed that Mr. Tr had a herniated disc and spinal stenosis causing compression of the nerve roots at L2-3 and L4-5. He was indicated for endoscopic surgery to remove the herniated nucleus and relieve the compression of the nerve roots.

One day after surgery, the patient was able to lift his legs off the bed. After one week, the patient was able to stand in bed with light support.

In the past, open surgery was often limited to elderly patients or patients with many chronic medical conditions for the following reasons: patients with diabetes have a high risk of infection; patients taking anticoagulants due to cardiovascular disease or coronary stent placement have a risk of difficult-to-control bleeding; patients with bronchial asthma or chronic lung disease have a high risk of complications during anesthesia.

Therefore, these patients with spinal diseases often have to take painkillers for a long time, live with the pain and lie motionless in bed without any way to treat it.

However, endoscopic spine surgery is currently considered one of the most effective treatment methods. With the advantage of surgery with a very small incision (only about 0.6-0.7cm), it limits blood loss, reduces the risk of infection and limits damage to other structures of the spine. Thanks to that, this method can completely intervene in cases of very old age, with many underlying diseases.

The patient's recovery results are the clearest evidence that laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method that can help elderly patients have more hope of getting out of bed and returning to life.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/phau-thuat-noi-soi-cot-song-mang-lai-cuoc-song-moi-cho-benh-nhan-cao-tuoi-192231122154107623.htm