Back on form thanks to new op technique

For years, Winni, from Leeds, suffered from degenerative scoliosis, which didn’t respond to treatment with pain-relieving injections.

But then she underwent XLIF (eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion) surgery, a minimally invasive back surgery, which took just 45 minutes at the Spire Hospital in Leeds.

“Before the procedure, I was in sheer agony from the moment I woke up on a morning until the moment I went to bed on a night,” said Winni.

“To have pain that incredible – you have no idea.”

Previously, surgery to treat degenerative scoliosis would have required a long and complex procedure with disruption to muscles.

It would have required a relatively long recovery time – an operation which may not have been possible for Winni considering her age.

However, as the XLIF procedure is much quicker and simpler, consultant neurosurgeon Jake Timothy felt able to recommend it to Winni, who was 87 at the time of surgery.

Mr Timothy, who performed the surgery said: “Winni’s XLIF procedure took me 45 minutes rather than the several hours of a traditional back surgery operation.”

Since her operation, Winni’s back pain has almost completely gone.

She says she is amazed at the instant effects of the surgery.

“Before, I used to hunch over like an old woman from the pain, but now my back is straight.”

Lower back pain affects one in three of us each year with an estimated 2.5 million people seeking help from their GP about their condition.

Most episodes only last a short time, however, in some cases, back pain can be long-term and may reoccur and this type of pain can be related to spinal conditions.

As the spine is essential for support and movement, when it is damaged even the simplest daily activities can sometimes become difficult, if not impossible.

Spinal disorders can be caused by a number of factors including habitually standing or sitting in certain positions, and wear and tear.

Conditions include spinal disc degeneration, displacement of the small vertebral bones that make up the spine (spondylolisthesis) and abnormal curvature of the spine (degenerative scoliosis).

All of these conditions can affect positioning of the vertebrae in the spine which in turn can disrupt nerves, resulting in ongoing back pain. They can also cause pain in other parts of the body including the legs and feet, and can weaken the leg muscles.

Ongoing back pain can often be managed using physiotherapy and medication. However, sometimes other treatments may have to be considered, including surgery and their are a number of options.

Spinal interbody fusion is another surgical technique in which part of the spinal disc (a soft pad located between each vertebra) is removed and replaced with an implant, to help the bones to fuse together. The aim of the procedure is to align the spine properly, thereby stopping abnormal spinal motion and the nerve pain it causes.

Historically, this type of surgery has involved a long operation and recovery time. However, minimally invasive surgical techniques are being developed to help improve the results of spinal fusion, reduce trauma to the patient and lead to a quicker recovery and shorter hospital stay.

According to the latest figures, one in every six working days lost due to ill-health is due to back pain, and eighty per cent of Britons will suffer from it at some point in their lives.

British businesses lose an estimated 4.9 million days to employee absenteeism through work-related back pain – with the North East suffering more than most, with two people in every hundred having to cope with the condition.

With each affected employee taking an average of 19 days off work this is clearly a problem that needs to be addressed.

The charity Backcare estimates the overall cost of back pain – to the NHS, business and the economy – at a staggering £5bn per year.

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