Disc Replacement ( Cervical /Lumber) Cost in United Arab Emirates

A. The essential procedure of obtaining a license to practice medicine in the UAE ensures that only the best doctors get to do it. Doctors working in hospitals in the UAE are qualified and experienced and stay up to date with the latest developments in their areas of expertise. The personal touch they bring to their skill helps patients feel comfortable.

A. The hospital facilities are a factor that makes medical tourism an attractive business in the UAE. The strong combination of public and private healthcare systems is reflected in the facilities provided by the hospitals. Comprehensive coordination facilities are provided by the international patient centers in hospitals in the UAE. International patient centers are making medical travelers' lives easy by helping them in many ways such as:

• Payment and financial assistance
• Hospital transfers
• Tourism Guidance
• Interpretation services
• Visa related assistance
• Liaisoning for flights, local travel, and hotels
• Coordination for reports and treatment plans
• Appointment scheduling

A. More than 3 lakh patients visit UAE for treatment which ranges from minor to major surgeries, cosmetic interventions, and rehabilitation which includes cardiac as well as orthopedic rehabilitation.

There would be approximately 9.6% growth in the medical tourism industry of UAE, thanks to its affordable treatment cost, infrastructure in part with developed nations, experienced doctors, world-class facilities, and high investment by the country in improving its healthcare standards. Medical tourist visitors include Asians, Arabs, and Europeans.

Slip disc treatment in the U.A.E is done at various hospitals with a high success rate at an affordable price. Hospitals in UAE performing disc replacement surgery are equipped with modern facilities, experienced and trained doctors, and para-medical staff. For initial recovery after the surgery, rehabilitation centers are also available in the hospitals to speed up the recovery process

A. In UAE hospitals, the healing time for the disc replacement surgery will depend on the general health of the patient, the specific surgery undergone, and strict adherence to the medical advice given after the surgery. However, in general, recovery following ADR surgery is a little faster than any other traditional spinal fusion chemo surgery because this is not an invasive surgery.

1. Some patients get discharged within 24 – 48 hours after the operation is done. This makes it possible for the medical team to track the progress of healing and pain, plus be in a position to rule out any first symptoms of complications in the body.
2. Mobility: People often get out of bed and start walking within a few hours to a day after the operation has been completed. The purpose is to encourage blood flow and prevent possible dangerous consequences such as blood clot formation.
3. First 2–4 Weeks: Especially in the initial days and weeks after surgery, activities like lifting heavy objects, and bending or twisting should be avoided.PT may be prescribed in order to strengthen the patient’s back muscles and get the spine into working order again.
4. 6 Weeks to 3 Months: Most patients can resume normal activities at 6 weeks post-surgery but are discouraged from any strenuous activities or lifting heavy objects for the next 6-8 weeks.
5. 3 to 6 Months: When it comes to getting back to normal and being fully functional, one would need exercise or do more stressful jobs, it may take between 6 months.

A. In ADR surgery, there are various released artificial discs, and all types of artificial discs are developed to mimic the natural spinal disc in terms of functionality and flexion. The selection of the implant is determined by factors such as the pathologically established disease state of the patient, the particular preferences of the surgeon, and the spinal level being targeted for intervention.

• Metal-on-Metal Artificial Discs: These discs are constructed from titanium or cobalt-chromium alloys for the outside casing, and metal for the working parts.
• Metal-on-Polyethylene Artificial Discs: The outer part is often metal or titanium, and the inner is made of polyethylene a highly durable plastic.
• Ceramic-on-Ceramic Artificial Discs: The endplates and the core are made of ceramics, or ceramic-like materials, respectively. It has indeed been noted that the guideline centrifugal ceramic discs are comparatively smooth and are regarded as wear-resistant.
• Cushioning or Hybrid Artificial Discs: These combine both metal and polyethylene or ceramic to enhance the performance. End plates are usually constructed of metal, but the shock-absorbing and moving part can contain a polyethylene insert.
• Artificial Discs with Viscoelastic Core: These discs incorporate in the core a viscoelastic material that simulates the compressive and shock-absorbing characteristics of the normal disc.

A. Total disc replacement is normally undertaken when conservative measures including exercises, medications, or injections cannot manage the severe spinal conditions of a patient. The primary cause of disc replacement surgery is the disorders that involve the intervertebral discs within the spine, especially cervicals (neck) or lumbars (lower back). Here are the primary reasons why patients may require artificial disc replacement (ADR) surgery:

1. Degenerative disc disease: It is a clinical condition characterized by loss of flexibility of all the discs in the spine. It causes pain, stiffness, and limitation of movement around the joint.
2. Herniated disc: A disc herniation is where the soft center pushes through the tough outer ring into the spinal canal and applies pressure to nerve roots. It can lead to back pain, feeling of pins and needles, or weakness in the arms and legs.
3. Spinal stenosis: A region in the spinal canal through which the spinal cord and nerves are constricted. They give rise to back pain; symptoms of tingling and lethargy in the limbs and legs too.
4. Spondylolisthesis: It is a condition whereby one or more of the vertebrae in the spine move out of their usual position and come into contact with spinal nerves. The result of sciatica is that it may lead to back pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs and limbs.
5. Chronic Neck or Back Pain: Failure of a damaged disc or spinal degeneration to heal with conservative options such as drugs, injections, or physiotherapy.
6. Failed Previous Spinal Surgery: Sometimes such surgeries, for example, spinal fusion, may not alleviate pain or even result in such complications as increased pressure on other nearby discs (adjacent segment disease).

Some of the conditions that have to be taken into consideration before going further include, but are not limited to the type and the severity of the existing conditions.

• Chronic diseases that affect the performance of the surgery and the recovery time such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, and kidney disease.
• Age and the patient’s general condition are also important factors for consideration. As a result, older patients are likely to get complications resulting from low immunity and a slow healing process.
• Further, patients on anticoagulants, such as blood thinners, would require dose modification before the surgery, to prevent from having issues of bleeding. Therefore, the surgical team should have a list of medications to avoid the possibility of complications due to interaction.
• Postoperative rehabilitation of patients who underwent disc replacement surgery may be complicated by the presence of comorbidities. Such patients may take longer to heal and require aggressive rehabilitation especially if they present with complications such as diabetes, smoking, or poor mobility.

A. Disc replacement and spinal fusion are both surgeries for treating degenerative disc disease, but they differ in their approach and outcomes:

1. Disc Replacement means the excision of the diseased disc and its replacement by an artificial one that allows motion between the vertebrae. It is often applicable to young people with minor motion problems and patients with ruptured intervertebral discs; it has fewer postoperative requirements.
2. Spinal Fusion involves stripping out the damaged disc and joining the two adjacent bones which makes the particular area rigid. It is, however, preferred for spinal diseases that require higher levels of treatment, are multiple, or in the elderly. Though it provides permanent relief from pain and the immobility of the spine may not adversely affect the area of treatment, it may put extra pressure on the other discs at the same place that may land the individual in trouble in the future.

Is also important to make a distinction between the benefits and risks of both surgeries and has to do with the patient’s medical status.

A. After recuperating after disc replacement surgery, many patients can resume their athletic activities; however, this will vary depending on several factors, including the sport, degree of healing, and general health. Consider the following:

• Walking, cycling, and swimming are examples of low-impact sports that are typically safe to resume during rehabilitation.
• After fully recovering, moderate-impact activities (tennis, running) might be feasible with a slow progression.
• Sports that involve heavy impact or contact, like basketball and football, come with greater dangers and may be discouraged.
• It may take several months to fully recover, and physical treatment is necessary to strengthen the spine.
• Before returning to sports, always acquire your surgeon's approval, taking into account your unique rehabilitation.
• To avoid re-injury, concentrate on appropriate body mechanics and conditioning.

A. As with any surgery that involves the spine you’ll be advised of the risks associated with this operation and there are potential complications that can occur either in the operating theatre or following the implementation of the disc replacement. Here are the potential risks:

1. Infection: Superficial or deep infection of the wound or further into the spine may develop, necessitating antibiotics or further operations.
2. Bleeding: Surgical bleeding may even occur in excessive amounts in the course of surgery because of the bleeding disorders you may be having like the use of blood thinners or other diseases that hinder normal blood clotting processes.
3. Nerve Damage: Some damage to the spinal nerves near the site of the surgery may occur hence the legs and arms may become numb, weak, or painful.
4. Implant Problems: Surgery complications of the artificial disc may include: Dislocation or loosening of the artificial disc; Failure of the disc to function; and Pain.
5. Blood Clots: There is the possibility of blood forming a clot in the deep vein of the leg, a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or when it migrates to the lungs causing pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients that do not move much during the recovery period after surgery.
6. Adjacent Segment Disease: The disc that is above or below the one that has been replaced may also degenerate more rapidly because of the new movement in the spine which may call for other surgeries.
7. Spinal Instability: If the disc replacement has not afforded the spine the stability desired, then it will reach a situation where the spine becomes unstable, and may have to be fused.
8. Recurrent Pain: However, disc replacement is meant to ease pain and at times, one may develop complications that may lead to continued pain resulting from an implant failure in addition to other spinal problems.
9. Slow Healing: There may be Decelerated recovery, inappropriate or inability to heal or assimilate the artificial disc or other related tissues in the body.