Spine Surgery in Thailand

Spine surgery in Thailand has emerged as very safe now with a success rate of about 72% to 90% where patients experience relief of their pain after surgery.

The country offers considerable availability and advanced imaging which helps in better planning and execution of surgical procedures, and advances in anesthesia and neuromonitoring facilities that are widely available at a cheaper rate now.

What is Spine Surgery?

Spine surgery is a medical procedure that is performed to treat chronic back or neck pain that the patient is suffering. This procedure involves the fixation or removal of herniated discs and treating vertebral fractures, spinal stenosis, and bone spurs.

Spine surgery may seem a scary procedure, but it has left millions of people living a life free of back pain. 

Spine surgery aims to lessen a patient's back pain by changing the anatomy of the spine through various types of procedures depending on the diagnosis. 

Types of Spine Surgery Procedures commonly performed in Thailand:

Different spinal conditions are treated using various types of spine surgery. Some of the commonly performed surgeries are as follows:

Discectomy Surgery:

A discectomy is a surgical procedure that is conducted to remove an abnormal disc, which puts pressure on the spinal cord. 

It is recommended in case of - 

• In case of severe leg pain or tingling numbness that does not subside, thereby, making it hard to do everyday tasks.

• If there is extreme weakness in the muscles of the buttocks and legs

• Pain that radiates to the buttocks, thighs, or legs

• If there are problems with the bladder or the bowel, or the pain is excruciating and medicines fail to bring relief, then there’s a possibility of needing surgery right away.
   

Laminectomy:

A laminectomy is a type of spine surgery used to relieve compression present in the spinal cord. 

It is the orthopedic neurosurgical procedure in which doctors remove the laminar portion of the vertebral arch to reduce the pain in the vertebral canal

It is recommended in case of - 

• If there is shrinkage of the discs of the spine and swelling of the bones and ligaments, which both occur with aging

• in the case of arthritis of the spine, which is more common in older adults

• a congenital defect (i.e present from birth), such as abnormal growth of the spine

• Paget’s disease is a condition in which bones grow improperly

• achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism

• a tumor in the spine

• a traumatic injury

• a herniated or slipped disc

Lumbar Surgery:

Lumbar surgery is a procedure performed to treat persistent pain and physical problems with the spinal canal, spinal discs, or vertebrae. 

It is considered when there is a problem in the lower back.

Pain from lumbar spine conditions can radiate to the lower back, hips, or legs.

The goal of surgery is to improve mobility, stabilize the spine, and enhance your quality of life.

It is recommended in case of -

• Birth defects

• Bone spurs

• Degenerated, herniated, bulging, or ruptured spinal discs

• Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine

• Spinal arthritis

• Spinal instability

• The spinal problem of nerves that cause numbness or tingling in the legs

• Spinal stenosis

• Tumors in the back or spine

• Vertebral fractures, such as compression fracture
   

Spinal Fusion Surgery:

It is a surgical procedure that links bones in the spinal column together to relieve back problems such as herniated disks, fractures, or scoliosis. 

It is recommended in case of -

It is done to treat conditions that are characterized by the movement of vertebrae that causes back and/or neck pain such as -

• Degenerative disk disease

• Spondylolisthesis

• Spinal stenosis

• Scoliosis

• Fractured vertebra

• Infection

• Herniated disk

• Tumor
   

Disk Replacement Surgery:

Disk replacement surgery also referred to as artificial disc replacement, in which doctors replace the intervertebral disc with an artificial disc, one made of metal and plastic.

• Cervical Disk Degeneration - Loss of space between the cervical vertebrates from wear and tear

• Cervical Disk Collapse - The disk starts to bulge with age
   

Spine Tumor Removal Surgery:

Any growth on the spine, whether cancerous or not, can press upon the nerves, causing pain, neurological defects and sometimes paralysis.

Symptoms-

• The feeling of loss of sensation or muscle weakness in the legs

• Difficulty in walking, sometimes leading to falls

• Loss of bowel or bladder function.

How Long will I have to Stay in Thailand for a Spine Surgery Procedure?

You need to stay in the hospital for two to seven days after spine surgery. It is advisable to plan to stay in Thailand for at least five to ten days post-surgery because you need to attend follow-up checkups where your surgeon removes your stitches and monitors your healing progress.

What is the Recovery Time for Spine Surgery Procedures in Thailand?

Recovering from spinal surgery does not take long. However, the initial few days after surgery can be painful. 

The recovery from spine surgery depends on the condition and type of technique used to perform the surgery. 

After the wound healing process, the patient will be able to go back to their normal routine. However, sometimes this may not be possible. This is especially if the patient’s work involves lifting heavy loads. 

• In the case of open surgery, full recovery may take up to six months, but you should be able to retain daily routine activities and some light activities within 3 to 4 weeks. 

• In the case of minimally invasive surgery, you should be able to perform day-to-day tasks and resume most of your activities within two weeks.
   

What are the Potential Complications of  Spine Surgery?

Before having the Surgery one should discuss the complications related to the operation with their Spine specialist. 

The list of complications provided here is just to provide you with an idea of what to expect. However, only your Spine specialist can evaluate your condition and tell you of the risks of any treatment that can be recommended.

• Anesthesia

• Infection

• Blood Vessel Damage 

• Nerve Damage 

• Spinal Cord Damage

• Graft Displacement
   

Aftercare :

• Continuing to engage in stressful activities puts the person’s life at risk. 

• A person should also walk around with a cane for support and to avoid too much pressure on the spine.

• Diet should also be an important consideration. It will help to fasten the healing process.

 

How much is the Cost of Spine Surgery in Thailand?

The cost of spine surgery in Thailand is very low in comparison to other western countries. Furthermore, the quality and standard of health care and services are comparable to the best hospitals in the world.

The cost of spine surgery in Thailand starts from USD 14000.

The cost of a medical package in Thailand varies depending on several factors such as -

• the type of treatment

• the technique used

• the choice of hospital and city

• the doctor’s experience, and many more. 

This is one of the main reasons why thousands of patients from all over the world choose to travel to Thailand for medical treatment.

Types of Spine Surgery	USA	Thailand
Discectomy	30,000 USD	6,000 USD
Spine Fusion	60,000 USD	7,500 USD
Vertebroplasty	40,000 USD	8,000 USD
Laminectomy	77,000 USD	12,000 USD

What Factors To Look Into for Choosing a Hospital?

The treatment can only give desired results if the right kind of surgical treatment depending upon the condition is performed by a well-experienced surgeon. 

Thailand’s medical authorities keep updated on the approved hospitals, their accreditation, hygiene level, and medical staff license. 

 

There are some factors that you should look by yourself in order to get satisfactory treatment and they are:

• Check the hospital’s international accreditation such as Joint Commission International (JCI). Thailand has more than 51 JCI-accredited hospitals that are well-facilitated with the latest advancements. 

• You can also get an idea regarding the hospital’s reputation from Google, star ratings, reviews from the patient’s past experiences, etc. 

• The hospital should have the infrastructure to offer world-class healthcare facilities within your budget. 

• Check whether the surgeon is board certified or eligible in a particular specialty that you are looking for. 

• You can get a consultation with the surgeon via online consultation and ask your queries about follow-up care services. 

• Spine surgeons in Thailand are well-trained and well-versed with the latest advancements and technology to perform different spinal surgeries with international standards. 

• The hospitals in Thailand also provide rehabilitation programs for recovery and post-operative treatment.
   

Top Hospitals for Spine Surgery in Thailand

• Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok
  The Hospital is JCI accredited since 2002, the first hospital in Asia to be DNV GL MIR Certified for Infection Risk in 2017, and the first non-USA hospital to receive the Global Healthcare Accreditation with Excellence designation from GHA - a reflection of the highest international quality and safety standards for overseas patients going to the hospital for treatment and care.

• Bangkok Hospital
  Established in 1972, the hospital is equipped with the latest cutting-edge technologies some of which are - the 256-Slice Multi-Detector CT Scan, Cardiovascular MRI, the first Cartosound in Thailand, LINAC, the ARTIS Pheno machine, PET/CT Scan, and a New X-RAY Biplane Imaging (EOS).

• Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Bangkok
  Established in 1979, Samitivej Hospital is one of the leading private hospital groups in Thailand and SEA and is accredited by JCI.
  It is the first Hospital outside Japan to be accredited with the Japan Council for Quality Health Care (JCQHC) award.

• Sikarin International Hospital, Bangkok
  Sikarin International Hospital is one of the foremost tertiary care multidisciplinary facilities in Bangkok.
  The hospital is internationally accredited and certified by reputed organizations like JCI, ISO, HAACP, and HA - Hospital/Healthcare Accreditation for its management and excellent clinical quality.
   

Top Doctors for Spine Surgery in Thailand

• Dr. Atthaporn Boongird
  Dr. Atthaporn Boongird is a well-known Neurosurgeon with a specialization in Spine Surgery.
  His areas of specialization are Epilepsy Surgery, Functional Neurosurgery, and Full-endoscopic Operations of the Lumbar, Thoracic, and Cervical Spine.

• Dr. Ake Hansasuta
  Dr. Ake Hansasuta is a neurosurgeon who specializes in spine surgery.
  His areas of specialization are Pediatrics, Complex Spinal Disease, Endoscope, etc.

• Dr. Nanthadej Hiranyasthiti
  Dr. Nanthadej Hiranyasthiti is a leading Spine Surgeon with a vast experience of +32 years. 
  He is an expert and a sought-after spine surgeon for various procedures such as kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, spinal laminectomy, discectomy, foraminotomy, nucleoplasty, spinal fusion, artificial disk replacement, and spinal fusion.

• Dr. Pijaya Nagavajara
  Dr. Pijaya Nagavajara is a senior and a highly experienced Spine Surgeon with an extensive practice of +38 years.
  Dr. Nagavajara is a leading specialist in spine surgery and sports injuries. He performs kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, spinal laminectomy, discectomy, foraminotomy, nucleoplasty, spinal fusion, artificial disk replacement, and spinal fusion.

Conclusion

Thailand offers great options to people planning on getting spine surgery. In terms of standards, facilities, cost of health care services, and accreditation to JCI one can trust the authenticity of the services that the hospitals will be providing.

Hope this guide helps you in making the decision best suited to your needs.