Disk replacement surgery involves changing a problematic disc between two small bones in the spine (lumbar or cervical) with an artificial disk. The surgery begins by making an incision in the abdominal area so as to not disturb the nerves at the time of accessing the spine. The orthopaedic spine surgeon is aided by the vascular surgeon to open the disc space. The disk that is creating the issue is replaced with an artificial disk implant. Disk Replacement has a 60-74% success rate. It provides partial or near complete mobility in the cervical/lumbar region of the spine.
The hospitals and clinics in South Africa give a personal touch to the treatment they provide to their patients. They are able to achieve this because they have the best of surgeons and other medical professionals who ensure excellent medical and surgical services. The hospitals are also equipped with newly upgraded cutting edge technological instruments. Some of these medical centres are listed below: Netcare Group, Johannesburg Life Healthcare Hospital Group, Johannesburg Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Life Kingsbury Hospital, Cape Town Medi Clinic Cape Town Ahmed Kathrada Private Hospital, Lenasia Life Kingsbury Hospital, Cape Town
Disk replacement cost in South Africa starts from U$ 10,000 and can go up to US$ 40,000 which is much lesser than the Disk Replacement cost in United States of America i.e., US$ 55,000 to US$ 58,000.
21
Total Days
In Country
2 No. Travelers
3 Day in Hospital
18 Days Outside Hospital
Treatment cost starts from
USD 10000
Hospitals
The spinal cord is a linear arrangement of many small bones known as vertebrae. These vertebrae consist of spaces between them known as intervertebral spaces. They are filled with cartilaginous structures that provide a cushioning effect to the vertebrae and support the movement of the spine. These cartilaginous structures are called Intervertebral discs.
Any pathology of the intervertebral discs such as disc herniation (slipping of the disc from between the vertebrae), ruptured disc, or degenerative disc disease may cause severe back pain due to nerve impingement, indicating the need for either partial or total disc replacement. In partial disc replacement surgery, only a portion of the cartilaginous disc is replaced by the artificial disc, while the total disc is replaced in the total disc replacement surgery.
Cervical disc degeneration and disc rupture may cause chronic neck pain radiating towards the arm. Thoracic disc degeneration may cause chronic upper/ mid back pain while lumbar disc degeneration may cause chronic lower back pain.
Depending on the site of injury, any one of the following three types of incisions are made:
Once the incision is made, the following steps are performed:
Step 1: The organs are retracted once an incision is made to enable visibility
Step 2: The damaged or protruding disc is removed
Step 3: An artificial disc in place of excised disc is placed
Step 4 The artificial disc is secured to the adjacent vertebrae
Step 5: A sealing material between the frictional surfaces of the artificial disc is placed, if required
Step 6: The incision is surgically closed
You may be discharged after two to four days, after a thorough evaluation by the physical therapists. You are taught the proper techniques of getting in and out of bed before discharge from the hospital. You should avoid bending or twisting for the first two to four weeks to avoid straining the surgical site. You may be advised to use braces if your condition requires support in the lower back.
You may recover and get back to normal activities within three weeks after disc replacement surgery. Studies reveal that patients who successfully undergo total disc replacement surgery remain asymptomatic and free from chronic back pain for an average of 8.7 years.
The recovery time after total disc replacement is significantly less than that of spinal fusion surgery. The mobility is not compromised, and the prognosis is good. The success rate of the disc replacement surgery is around 98 percent.
Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) cost in South Africa starts from about $10000. There many COHSASA certified hospitals in South Africa that offer Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber)
Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) cost in South Africa varies from one hospital to the other. Some of the best hospitals for Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) offer a comprehensive package that covers the end-to-end expenses related to investigations and treatment of the patient. The Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) procedure in South Africa includes the fees of the surgeon, hospitalization and anesthesia as well. A prolonged hospital stay due to delayed recovery, new diagnosis and complications after surgery may increase the cost of Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) in South Africa.
There are many hospitals across the country that offer Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) to international patients. The following are some of the most renowned hospitals for Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) in South Africa:
After Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) in South Africa, the patient is supposed to stay in guest house for another 21 days. During this time, the patient undergoes medical tests and consultations. this is to ensure that the treatment was successful and the patient us safe to return.
One of the topmost destinations for Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) is South Africa. It has a variety of accredited hospital, affordable cost of treatment and some of the best medical fraternity. However, there are other countries as mentioned below that are popular for Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) as well:
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| Greece | USD 15000 |
| India | USD 6500 |
| Poland | USD 12500 |
| Singapore | USD 29000 |
| South Africa | USD 10000 |
| Spain | USD 25000 |
| Thailand | USD 20000 |
| Turkey | USD 7500 |
| United Arab Emirates | USD 18500 |
| United Kingdom | USD 5500 |
Apart from the Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) cost, there are a few other daily charges that the patient may have to pay. These are the charges for daily meals and accommodation outside the hospital. The extra charges may start from USD 50 per person.
There are many cities that offer Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) in South Africa, including the following:
After the Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) takes place, the average duration of stay at the hospital is about 3 days. During the recovery, the patient is carefully monitored and control tests are performed to see that everything is okay. If required, physiotherapy sessions are also planned during recovery in hospital.
The average rating for Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) hospitals in South Africa is 2.9. Several parameters such as hospital infrastructure, pricing policy, quality of services, politeness of staff etc. contribute to the rating.
There are more than 3 hospitals that offer Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) in South Africa. The above mentioned hospitals have the required infrastructure and a dedicated unit where patients can be treated. Additionally, these hospitals are known to comply with the international standards as well as local legal requirements for the treatment of patients.
Some of the top doctors for Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) in South Africa are:
South Africa has several top-quality hospitals, such as:
Below are some of the parameters which reflect the quality of these hospitals:
South Africa is known to have strict government regulations for controlling the quality of care provided by the government and private hospitals. The patient-centric hospitals are equipped with superior infrastructure, high-tech medical equipment, and highly trained and qualified doctors, providing a unique patient experience.
The hospitals in South Africa receive accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI) and Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA). In order to ensure coordinated and integrated care is provided by healthcare facilities, COHSASA sets and assesses standards for all sectors and departments of a healthcare system. The SafeCare program launched by COHSASA, JCI, and SafeCare Foundation ensures the implementation of internationally recognized standards to improve health care delivery. Initially, a two-year accreditation is awarded to hospitals and clinics that adhere to standards and the period can be extended if the hospitals continue to deliver expected quality care.
Affordable healthcare and superior infrastructure are the main reasons for the popularity of South Africa in the medical tourism sector. South Africa’s growing popularity in medical tourism is also attributed to factors like a large pool of accredited hospitals, advanced technology, world-class facilities provided by hospitals, global exposure of doctors. In addition, South Africa’s liberal laws allow for the use of stem cells in medical practice, making it an invaluable destination for patients in need of advanced medical treatment. You get comprehensive treatment at world-class hospitals which assist you with all organization and administrative tasks and also provide you all-inclusive care and assistance on a 24/7 basis.
The doctors in South Africa strive to provide quality treatment utilizing their deep subject knowledge and hands-on experience in handling various complex cases. Having trained in foreign countries like Australia and Cuba, doctors in South Africa use their global exposure in developing deep expertise in various procedures. Doctors in South Africa are known for their deep expertise in dental procedures and fertility treatments. The high quality of doctors in the country is attributed to factors like their patient-centric approach, incorporation of the human touch in treatment, education at reputed colleges, and adherence to global standards.
A person can apply for a medical visa to South Africa for a period of 90 days. The High Commission helps one decide for how long a visa can be extended. Anyone willing to stay in the country for longer than 3 months needs to apply for a temporary residency permit. The validity of a visa begins the same day it is issued by the High Commission in South Africa. A visa application is accepted until 30 days prior to the departure date. Below documents are required for applying for a medical visa:
South Africa is known to offer some procedures with high success rates, such as total knee replacement, meniscus repairs, hip replacement, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Some other procedures which have gained popularity in South Africa are cosmetic surgery and infertility treatment. Egg donation program is available at the majority of fertility clinics and you can opt for a surgical or non-surgical procedure, with quite low waiting times. People select South Africa to avail these procedures due to several reasons, such as world-class hospitals with superior infrastructure and highly-skilled doctors, fast recovery, and use of cutting-edge medical technology.
South Africa has a number of modern urban centers, such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban. Cape Town is a world-class tourism attraction and is home to a variety of people from different cultures, as well as some of the top-class doctors and state-of-the-art medical facilities in the world Most of these cities have an efficient public transportation system, cheap accommodation options, and connectivity through airlines. Johannesburg’s healthcare system is on par with Great Britain and the city’s public and private healthcare industry works closely with South Africa's medical schools to create internationally recognized medical specialists.
Yes, vaccination is compulsory before visiting South Africa. The vaccines recommended by WHO and the National Travel Health Network and Centre are Rabies and tetanus, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, Yellow fever, hepatitis A. Make sure that infants of age 6 to 11 months get measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before they travel to South Africa. It is always recommended that you get typhoid vaccination if you are going to stay with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas of South Africa. You need to keep yourself updated with vaccination guidelines issued by the government. Also, check with the doctor, the government authority, or hospitals in South Africa as to what vaccination should be taken.
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