Frequently Asked Questions

The procedure usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

Radiofrequency Ablation is generally considered after other conservative treatments like medications (anticonvulsants) have been unsuccessful or caused intolerable side effects. It is a less invasive option compared to some other surgical procedures, such as microvascular decompression (MVD).

The recovery period is relatively short for most patients. Some patients may experience mild discomfort or facial numbness, which typically resolves within a few days to weeks. Pain relief may occur immediately after the procedure or take a few days to manifest.

Balloon compression is not always a permanent solution, but it can provide pain relief for a significant period, often months to several years. The duration of pain relief varies from patient to patient.

The benefits of an awake craniotomy include: Real-time monitoring of brain function to avoid damage to critical areas. Better tumor or lesion removal accuracy. Reduced risk of neurological deficits after surgery.

No, the patient should not feel any pain during the surgery due to the use of local anesthesia and sedation. However, they may experience some pressure or discomfort during the procedure.

Since MISS is technically challenging, enough care is taken on different aspects to ensure a safe and good outcome. It is important for you, as a patient considering MISS, that your surgeon is well-trained, and has enough experience of performing a wide range of spine key-hole surgeries. In addition, the hospital staff and infrastructure should also support performing these Minimally Invasive Procedures with accuracy, precision and safety. MISS is a way of life at Aster. More than 90% of the spinal surgeries here are done through minimally invasive techniques. Aster is probably the only hospital that ‘regularly’ does MISS for cervical pathologies and complex spine cases. Clinical Expertise: Dr. Umesh Srikantha, Head of Spine Services at Aster, has performed close to 2000 minimally invasive spine surgeries in the past seven years. His experience in MISS ranges from the most basic procedures like lumbar microdiscectomy, foraminotomy and decompression surgeries to the most complex spinal fusion procedures for advanced pathologies like tumors and high-grade spondylolisthesis. He is one of the top surgeon faculties in the country for MISS, having trained more than a hundred aspiring surgeons to adopt MISS through advanced training programs. The OR team at Aster has also been supporting MISS for the past seven years and is proficient with the use of complex MISS instrumentation and high-end technologies such as navigation and neuro-monitoring. Technology: We all know how the advent of data connectivity, GPS and Google Maps, has simplified road travel for the common man. We rarely feel the need to stop and to ask for directions. More importantly, we are able to reach the correct destination in the shortest possible time. Similarly, modern and state-of-the-art hospitals invest in and routinely use surgical navigation technologies. The use of surgical navigation systems along with advanced pre-surgery planning software has revolutionized a surgeon’s ability to visualize the anatomy in 3D and perform more accurate surgeries even through smaller skin incisions and narrow tubes. In addition, the use of intra-operative neuro monitoring ensures critical nerve structures are monitored and protected through the course of Spine surgery. At Aster, these advanced enabling technologies are used routinely to ensure MISS is performed with utmost accuracy, precision and safety.

Traditional methods of spine surgery, or ‘open procedures’ require long incisions down the middle of the back and stripping of muscles and ligamentous attachments to the spine. Moreover, the muscles are pulled and held apart to grant a surgeon access to the spine for the surgery duration. This can range from one hour to several hours. The invasive and traumatic nature of open spine surgery, compromises the vital supporting structures of the spine that play an important role in maintaining the strength and flexibility of your back. This method of surgery will address a surgeon’s operative goal, i.e. relieving the pressed nerve or spinal cord. However, it compromises on the natural anatomy and exposes the patient to weakness of the back post-surgery leading to compromised muscle strength and flexibility, and pain.

A spine specialist may diagnose you as a candidate for surgery if they feel that your problem is advanced. The nature of the spine is such that degeneration or damage to one part can trigger a cascade which can start affecting other healthy parts as well. Therefore, a surgeon may suggest that in certain cases, surgery may be the right option for you. Spine surgery has been around for several decades and has evolved into a very safe procedure. Surgeons have the dual advantage of rigorous training and advanced technologies that ensure safe and satisfying outcomes. A large number of patients are known to have benefitted after spine surgery performed for conditions such as lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, disc herniation. Talk to your surgeon openly about your concerns!

Visiting a spine surgeon does not mean you will need spine surgery! A specialist can understand and interpret the root cause of your back pain through some simple tests like X-rays, MRI or CT Scans. Also a spine specialist has comprehensive training and experience to understand spinal anatomy, correlate symptoms to pathology, and recommend and offer surgical or non-surgical treatment options. This makes them much better-equipped to manage your spinal issues effectively.