BEST PROVIDERS OF SPECIALIST CARE
SPINE CARE SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
MOUNT ELIZABETH HOSPITAL
Some of the most experienced spine surgeons in the Asia-Pacific region can be found at Mount Elizabeth Hospital ( MEH ), where an array of advanced procedures is available to treat the whole spectrum of spine problems .
“ Our orthopaedic spine surgeons in Mount Elizabeth are trained in renowned institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom and are specialised in computer-navigated , minimally invasive or complex surgery for patients suffering from spinal disorders and deformities ,” Dr Noel Yeo , Senior Vice-President , Parkway Hospitals Singapore , told Global Health Asia-Pacific . “ They are recognised nationally and internationally for pioneering the latest treatments and clinical research and are dedicated to developing optimal patient pathways for the best possible patient outcomes .”
A key area where MEH spine experts excel is minimally invasive surgery , an approach that over the last decades has revolutionised surgical techniques in several specialities by replacing open surgery , which involves large cuts in the skin and tissues to give surgeons a clear view of the structures and organs they operate on .
One example is minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion ( MIS-TLIF ), a procedure that can treat several conditions causing compression and instability in the spine , such as degenerated discs , infections , tumours , scoliosis ( curve of the spine ), fractures , and deformity . This novel technique can be performed by making small incisions and by follow-
Benjamin Neo with Varun Panjwani
ing a muscle-dilating approach that preserves tissues because it doesn ’ t involve their cutting , thus reducing muscle and soft tissue injuries caused by surgery .
“ This minimally invasive technique provides substantial advantages over open surgery , aiming to significantly reduce the morbidities associated with open TLIF , while preserving the good outcomes ,” explained Dr Yeo . “ MIS-TLIF is better in terms of post-operative pain and recovery as patients suffer three times less intraoperative blood loss and are 5.7 times less likely to develop surgical site infections , while they can go home after a short hospital stay or even on the same day of the procedure .” These advantages are particularly important for patients who are vulnerable to complications from blood loss , like the elderly af- fected by multiple conditions .
Another procedure available at MEH is lumbar discectomy , which is done to treat diseased discs ( the spongy structures that sit between the bones of the spine ). For instance , a tear in a disc can cause its jellylike centre to push out and put pressure on nearby nerves , thus causing pain . A discectomy can relieve it when other non-surgical options have failed .
The procedure involves the removal of the part in the disc that is causing pressure on the nerve , and it can be done with minimally invasive approaches that entail the use of either microscopic magnification ( Microdiscectomy ) in an open surgery , or a small video camera ( endoscopic discectomy ) to guide surgeons through the operation .
Supporting MEH ’ s staff of recognised international experts in minimally invasive surgery are operating rooms equipped with the latest intraoperative imaging technology to ensure that surgeons performing minimally invasive surgeries have access to clear images of the tissues they ’ re operating on in real time . This is made possible by a dedicated operating room team that supports surgeons during each stage of surgery .
“ Together with the post-surgery care team , our surgical experts will make sure patients receive the best possible treatment outcome and care ,” said Dr Yeo .
88 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com