What are the Benefits, Costs and Risks of Anterior Cervical Corpectomy Spine Surgery in India

Cervical Corpectomy Spine Surgery: Definition

Cervical corpectomy, a procedure similar to surgical intervention techniques like anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), is done through the front of the neck. Corpectomy involves a technique of removal of the vertebral body, one of the cardinal parts of the cervical vertebra that appears like a building block. This particular spinal surgery approach is used when the need for eliminating two or more cervical discs arise. It is easier to get rid of two or more discs along with the intervening body or bodies for some patients. This holds true when the patient has osteophytes or bone spurs behind the body with narrow disc space. Apparently, the surgeon gets a large exposure by removing a cervical body that allows him or her to function through instead of working down the narrow disc space. Corpectomy is performed due to almost the same reasons as an ACDF. The only difference is corpectomy is employed when there are either two or more disc levels associated with bony spurs pressing on the spinal cord, or less often, for treating tumors of the cervical spine.

Benefits:

There are a multitude of benefits of anterior cervical corpectomy, such as
1. This procedure involves fewer complications, almost seven times lesser than other techniques including fusion.
2. The outcome of this procedure is highly encouraging- the mortality rate is quite low.
3. This rate of loss of blood in anterior cervical corpectomy is at least ten times lesser than the rate in conventional surgical procedures.
4. The possibility of possible nerve damage during the surgery is low.
5. The use of a general anesthetic is avoided in performing an anterior cervical corpectomy.

Cost involved:

The cost of anterior cervical corpectomy spine surgery in India is significantly lower than that in countries like US, UK etc. Having said that, there are a few factors that can determine the costs that may include,
1. Choice of surgeon
2. Choice of hospital
3. Extent of spinal damage in the patient
4. Hospital stay

Risks:

Like other surgical procedures, anterior cervical corpectomy involves a host of risks including,
Infection: Infection around the wound is possible. It may require few dressings and some antibiotics to treat such infections.
Infections that have gone deeper may call for the need for further treatment.
 Treating such infections is necessary as it may affect the cerebrospinal fluid present around the nerve roots and spinal cord, which is known as meningitis.

Paralysis: 

The patient can experience nerve or spinal cord damage leading to muscle weakness before the surgery. There are chances that the spinal cord may get squashed or get injured owing to the manipulation done while freeing the nerve or spinal cord. This type of damages can lay a severe impact on the capacity of the bladder and bowel.

Death: 

Though the chances of death are extremely rare, the person being operated may get a myocardial infarct as a result of the stress caused during the surgery (a rare reaction to a drug called anaphylaxis).

Anterior cervical corpectomy spine surgery in India

A horde of patients come to India to get this surgery done due to two significant reasons including quality of services and price. In fact, the price is the major selling point- "First World treatment' at Third World prices".
As Indian premier hospitals are on par, if not better than the most sought-after hospitals in the world, the country is becoming a preferred medical destination for patients around the world.