Kathmandu, September 17

More than 200 patients have undergone spine surgery at National Trauma Centre since its inception some two years ago.

According to the centre, 180 of them were major surgeries. The centre uses neuro monitoring system to reduce the risks of spine surgery. The advantage of using this system is that it helps to prevent injuries to nerves. It reduces the risk of postoperative neurological complications.

The system also prevents unsuspected and unpleasant neurological deficit after spinal surgery. However, the system is used in complicated spine surgeries such as spine tumour, listhesis — a condition in which the spine

is bent abnormally — degenerative spine due to ageing, among others, as per Dr Gaurav Raj Dhakal, spine surgeon at the trauma centre .

“The neuro monitoring system is computer-based and alerts the surgeon to possible injuries in advance. Therefore, patients haven’t been referred to any other countries for surgeries since the centre started its services,” added Dr Dhakal.

The centre is also using minimally invasive spine surgery system. “This ensures faster recovery after surgery,” said Dr Dhakal, adding that most of the patients visiting the centre were patients injured in accidents.

Earlier, before the inception of spine surgeries in the country, patients had to visit foreign countries for treatment.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get treatment if the trauma centre had not started spine surgeries,” said Goma Raut, 50, of Illam, one of the patient.