Doctors in her hometown advised that open spine surgery was the only viable option but cautioned that mobility could not be guaranteed even after surgery. However, following keyhole spine surgery at Iswarya Hospital, the patient regained mobility and was able to walk within a day.
Chennai, October 27, 2026: After years of persistent back and leg pain, previous lumbar spine surgeries and prolonged pain-management treatment, a 62-year-old woman from Sri Lanka successfully underwent complex revision spine surgery at Iswarya Hospital, OMR, Chennai. Dr M.D.S. Sasidharan, Clinical Lead and Senior Consultant, Department of Spine and Scoliosis Surgery, Iswarya Hospital, performed the procedure using an ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery technique. The patient was able to stand and walk on the same day after surgery, with significant relief from the pain that had troubled her for years. The surgery lasted for three hours.
The patient had previously undergone two lumbar spine surgeries in Sri Lanka in 2020. However, her pain persisted despite treatment over the following years. She was subsequently managed with pain medications and repeated steroid injections over a prolonged period in her hometown. Her condition gradually worsened, eventually leading to severe pain, difficulty walking and symptoms of foot drop. The family sought medical opinions from several doctors and centres across Sri Lanka, Singapore, Australia and India. They eventually consulted Dr. M.D.S. Sasidharan through a video consultation. Following the consultation and discussion of the available treatment options, the family decided to travel to Chennai with the patient for further evaluation and treatment at Iswarya Hospital.
On arrival at Iswarya Hospital in a stretcher, Dr. Sasidharan conducted a detailed clinical evaluation and imaging assessment. The patient was found to have L4–L5 and L5–S1 disc extrusion with canal stenosis, along with significant weakness in the right lower limb and sensory changes in the L5/S1 distribution. Considering her previous surgeries, recurrent pathology and progressive neurological symptoms, the medical team recommended complex revision spine surgery to relieve the nerve compression and improve her mobility. The revision spine surgery was performed on 7th September 2026, Dr. Sasidharan performed revision endoscopic decompression at L4–L5 and L5–S1. Rather than focusing on the size of the incision alone, the endoscopic approach was used as a keyhole, pathology-directed strategy to address the source of nerve compression while limiting unnecessary surgical exposure.
“Multiple doctors in her hometown advised that open spine surgery was the only viable option but cautioned that mobility could not be guaranteed even after surgery. Given our experience in managing complex revision spine cases and using advanced endoscopic techniques, we were able to directly target the pathology and decompress the affected nerves through a focused keyhole approach, avoiding the need for a large conventional surgical exposure. Following the procedure, the patient regained mobility and was able to walk within a day. This was not simply a case of treating a disc problem; this was a patient who had lived with persistent pain for years,” said Dr. M.D.S. Sasidharan, Clinical Lead and Senior Consultant, Department of Spine and Scoliosis Surgery, Iswarya Hospital.
“Ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery is not simply about making a smaller cut. It is about reaching the problem through a focused corridor and avoiding unnecessary disruption of normal tissues wherever possible. For carefully selected patients, this approach can be particularly valuable in complex and revision situations,” added Dr. Sasidharan.
“This case reflects Iswarya Hospital’s growing expertise in advanced spine care, particularly in minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures. We are proud to offer patients from neighbouring countries access to specialised treatment that may not be readily available closer to home. The patient’s recovery and ability to walk with significant relief following surgery are deeply encouraging and reaffirm Iswarya Hospital’s commitment to delivering advanced, patient-centred care with the highest standards of clinical expertise,” said Dr. S. Rajasundaram, CEO, Iswarya Hospital.
“We had consulted several doctors and explored treatment options in different countries. After years of pain and repeated treatment, we had almost lost hope. When we came to Dr. Sasidharan, his expertise in complex spine surgery and keyhole technology gave us the confidence to proceed. She was able to walk on the same day after the surgery, and seeing her free from the pain she had suffered for so many years was something we could hardly believe,” said the patient’s husband.
Following the procedure, the patient was discharged within a week and subsequently returned to Sri Lanka, walking independently