The department of neurosurgery at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) introduced key-hole spine surgery under the aegis of Sarvpreet Singh Grewal here.
The procedure, which is done using an endoscope or a microscope with a small one-inch incision on the back, requires minimal tissue cutting and no muscle and bone cutting.
Dr Sarvpreet Singh Grewal, professor and head of department of neurosurgery said minimal post-operative pain and quick recovery was the advantage of this surgery.
In the past week, two patients with an extruded lumbar disc were operated by Grewal using this technique - a 26-year-old volleyball player from Fatehgarh Sahib, who came to him with an intolerable back radiating down to his right leg and a 68-year-old male, who came with back pain radiating to his left leg.
Both were operated successfully by Dr Grewal and his team. Grewal said the department of neurosurgery had started a specialised spine OPD on Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 1pm for patients with spine problems at CMCH.