Spinal surgery is a medical procedure performed to restructure or correct any misalignment or problems caused in the spine. Spinal surgery can be recommended for various reasons and if you have been recommended one and are worried about the costs that you might incur, then allow us to help you.
Covered in this article are the types of spinal surgeries that can be performed, the price of each type, and the cost you will incur while performing various other procedures before, during, or after the surgery – so let’s have a look into it.
How Much Does Spine Surgery Cost?
The approximate cost of spine surgery in India can range between 2lakhs to 8 lakh rupees, but this is an average amount that changes with the various types of surgeries that can be performed, the hospital that you choose for performing the surgery, and the procedures to be performed before the surgery. let’s start with knowing the different types of spine surgery and their costs –
Kyphoplasty
Also known as Vertebroplasty, this is a surgical procedure that is performed to restore the compression fractures that are caused to your spine due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition of the bone caused due to the loss of tissue, causing the bones to become brittle and fragile. In kyphoplasty, bone cement is injected into your spine through a small hole made in your skin. It is a minimally invasive surgery.
While the surgery will be completed within a day, you will have to stay in the hospital for around 6 days. Excluding the cost of the hospital, stay kyphoplasty can cost you between 2- 5 lakhs.
Cervical spine surgery
A cervical spine surgery is generally performed to treat nerve or spinal obtrusions, Cervical radiculopathy, or spinal instability. The surgery can be performed either as decompression surgery or a fusion surgery. The two procedures can often be combined because decompression surgery may require the need for fusion to prevent disability of the spine. The surgeon might also use spinal instruments like a small plate to help add more stability to the construct of the spine.
The surgery can cost between 3, 00,00 to 6,00,00 based on the hospital you choose. In this surgery, you will be required to stay in the hospital for at least 5 days.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a condition of the spine where there is a sideways curvature of the spine. Scoliosis most commonly occurs in adolescents during their growth spurts or just before they hit puberty. Scoliosis can be treated with spine surgery. The surgery will help remove the abnormal curving of the spine and align it correctly with the hips and shoulder by straightening the spine.
The surgery is completed in one day, but you will be required to stay in the hospital under supervision for about 6 days minimum. You may be asked to stay longer if the doctor thinks it is needed. The cost of undergoing scoliosis surgery is between 5 lakh to 8 lakh rupees.
Herniated Disc Surgery
A herniated disc is a condition of the spine where the soft center of a spinal disc pushes out through a crack present in the tough exterior casing. This can irritate the nerves present nearby and hence cause pain. In this, there is a problem of a rubbery disc between the spinal bones.
The surgery for a herniated disc can cost between two lakhs to four lakh rupees, and the surgery will be completed mostly in one day. After the surgery gets completed, you will be asked to stay in the hospital for a minimum of seven days.
Lumbar Discectomy
Discectomy is the surgery that is performed for herniated discs present in the lumbar region. In this procedure, the portion of the disk that is protruding out causing irritation to the nerves is removed, or in some cases, the entire disc may be removed. This depends highly on the individual condition and what the doctor thinks will be the best for you. The surgeon will access the affected disc by making a small incision on the back of your neck or on the front, whichever is the most convenient.
The surgery can cost around 3 to five lakh rupees and will require you to stay in the hospital for a minimum of twelve days.
Microdiscectomy
A microdiscectomy is performed to relieve the pain caused due to a herniated disc; it is the minimally invasive method of discectomy in which a small part of the disc located below or above the nerve root is taken out by the surgeon.
The cost of the surgery can be between two lakhs to four lakhs and will require you to stay in the hospital for at least three days after the surgery.
Spine Lumbar Disc Replacement
A spine lumbar disc replacement surgery is performed when a damaged disk material is located between the small bones present in the spine. In the surgery, the doctor approaches the lower back by making an incision in your front abdomen. The symptomatic lumbar disc will be removed and replaced by an artificial disc usually made out of metal or a combination of metal and plastic.
The lumbar disc replacement surgery can take 2- 3 hours to be performed, and after that, you will have to stay in the hospital for at least four days. The lumbar spine replacement surgery can cost between 3 to five lakh rupees.
What are the other costs involved?
Apart from undergoing surgery, there will be other costs that will be incurred when you choose to undergo spine surgery they are-
Pre-surgery tests
Before performing a spine surgery, you will be required to undergo some tests to make sure you are fit for the surgery; while the tests may vary according to the need, the general ones are-
- X-ray – an X-ray of the spine is taken before the surgery; the cost of an x-ray can range between 500 to 2000 rupees in different hospitals.
- CT scan – your doctor will ask you to undergo a computed tomography which will cost around 1200 to 5000 rupees.
- Nerve conduction studies – used to measure the electrical impulses along with muscles and nerves, an nerve conduction study can cost between 1000- 4500 rupees.
- MRI of the spine – to produce a 3d image of the spine, you will be asked to take an MRI; the MRI can cost around 2500 – 7000 rupees.
- Myelography – myelography of the spine can cost around 2000 to 3000 rupees.
Hospital stay
You will be asked to get yourself admitted to the hospital at least one day before the scheduled surgery date to undergo the various physical tests required. After that, based on the surgery that is performed, you will be required to stay in the hospital for about a week; this will vary based on your surgery and what the doctor seems fit for you.
So when you are staying in the hospital rooms will have a cost, a standard ward room in a hospital can cost anywhere between 500 to 5000 rupees for a day, and if you choose a private hospital room with added amenities like a suite room, then your cost will increase further.
Cost of medication
Before and after the surgery, there will be various medicines that will have to be taken; these medicines will have a standard cost and will be recommended to you by the doctor.
Doctors fee
Before the surgery is performed, you will have to consult a doctor, and the doctors usually have a visitation fee that ranges from 300 to 100 rupees.
Even after the surgery is performed, you will be required to make some visits to the hospital to get your stitches removed and to check if your wounds are healing correctly. These all will have costs associated with them varying according to the hospital you choose and the region where your hospital is situated.
Physiotherapy
Before you resume life after undergoing spine surgery, you will have to have some sessions with a physiotherapist. This will be recommended to you by your doctor.
A typical physiotherapy session may cost between 500- 1000 per session. Your doctor will be the best judge of how many sessions you might require.
FAQs
Q. Do spine surgeries come with risks?
Yes, like all surgeries, spine surgeries also have some risks associated with them. After undergoing spine surgery, in some cases, there may be bleeding, infections, and nerve damage.
Q. How long will it take to heal after spine surgery?
You will have to stay off strenuous work for at least four to six weeks, and for complete recovery, you may take anywhere between 3- 4 months. This is just an approximation; every person’s recovery rate is different. Consult your doctor to get a more precise idea.
Q. How successful is spine surgery in India?
Spine surgery is a very common procedure that is done in India with a success rate of around 75% to 80%. Compared to other countries the success rate of spine surgery in India is very high.
Conclusion
Budgeting a spine surgery and finding out the total cost involved can be confusing, but after reading this article, you now have an idea of what the various types of spine surgery cost, what the costs are other than the surgery coats that need to be considered. This will help you get a precise picture of the costs you might incur.
Let us know in the comments which point you found most helpful.
References:
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/minimally-invasive-spine-surgery/
