Motion-preserving and Minimally-invasive Spine Unit

Spine surgery is an orthopaedic and neurosurgical discipline that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the spine. The spine is a crucial part of the human body, providing support, flexibility, and protection for the spinal cord. Most patients with spinal conditions can be treated non-surgically. The modalities of treatment offered may include physical therapy, lifestyle modification, medication, and spinal injections.

Surgery will be recommended only after these measures have failed if there is further progression of symptoms or if the patient's condition is not suited for non-surgical treatment. The goals of spine surgery are to relieve symptoms through neural decompression, stabilization of the spine, and correction of spinal deformities. The use of a variety of spine surgical techniques tailored to patients' need has led to a reduction in post-operative pain, duration of hospital stays and earlier return to daily activities. These techniques may involve spinal fusion or motion preservation, as well as open incisions or minimally invasive approaches (refer to MMSU).

Our spine specialist at Alexandra Hospital provide targeted care at each stage of the surgical process. After the spine surgery, patients go through rehabilitation to restore mobility. Our experienced medical staff will strive to help patients undergo a safe recovery.

Conditions

• Neck (cervical) pain and/or upper limb pain, numbness, weakness
• Back (lumbar) pain and/or lower limb pain, numbness, weakness

• Degenerative spinal disorders
• Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, myelopathy
• Lumbar spinal stenosis, prolapsed discs, degenerate discs and spinal instability)
• Spinal trauma and spinal cord injury
• Spinal infections
• Spinal emergencies (e.g. cauda equina syndrome)

Services at Alexandra Hospital's General Spine Clinic

• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
• Decompression laminotomy/ laminectomy
• Lumbar fusion
• Microdiscectomy
• Pain and Rehabilitation Services
• Spinal fixation and stabilization
• Spinal debridement

One-Stop Motion-preserving and Minimally invasive Spine Unit (MMSU)

Alexandra Hospital's One-Stop Motion-preserving and minimally invasive Spine Unit (MMSU) focuses on motion-preserving and minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat degenerative spine conditions. The aim is to preserve and restore spinal mobility for better function by minimising soft tissue injury to enhance recovery after surgery.

The surgical techniques MMSU employs include spinal arthroplasty (artificial disc replacement) tailored to the needs of each individual patient, as well as state-of-the-art spinal endoscopy (keyhole spine surgery) to treat a wide spectrum of spinal conditions. Both spine surgeons are fellowship trained in these areas of spine surgery and have successfully performed numerous such surgeries, even for patients who are elderly, as well as those with stiff, osteoporotic bones and deformed spines.

Our spine clinic provides targeted, precise care at each stage of the surgical process. After surgery, patients will go through rehabilitation to restore mobility. Our experienced medical staff will ensure that patients undergo a safe recovery. Pain management clinics and rehabilitation are also offered by our team as part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. Together, the team provides a one-stop, end-to-end care plan for our patients.