INDICATIONS FOR SURGICAL INTERVENTION 

• Discogenic pain syndrome is caused by the protrusion, or hernia, of the disk which occupies no more than 1/3 of the spinal canal;
• indicators of degenerative changes of the disk (increased intra-disk pressure, partial dehydration, internal ruptures and micro-fractures of the fibrous disk);
• local discogenic pain syndrome at the lumbar part of the spine in cases when conservative therapy did not show effect over a period exceeding three months;
• discogenic radicular pain syndrome.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF VERTEBRAL DISC HERNIA AT THE RCMC

State Institution “RCMC” is the only Center in the Republic of Belarus where two modern minimally invasive interventions are performed for the treatment of acute and chronic pain syndrome in degenerative diseases of the spine, radiculopathy caused by intervertebral hernias. Minimally invasive surgery does not require deep anesthesia and large surgical skin incisions. Transcutaneous (percutaneous) puncture radio wave nucleoannuloplasty is performed using the DISK-FX system and cold plasma nucleoplasty using modern high-tech equipment.

Benefits of treating spinal diseases with nucleoplasty:

1. no age restrictions;
2. maximum accuracy (the operation is performed under X-ray navigation (control);
3. minimum duration (the duration of the operation is short, about 20-30 minutes. The operation is performed in a hospital);
4. minimal invasiveness (percutaneous insertion of the electrode, easily and precisely controlled volume of tissue removal);
5. safety (the procedure is performed under intravenous anesthesia on spontaneous breathing, constant x-ray control accurately shows the position of the electrode in the intervertebral disc, there is no thermal damage to the treated tissue);
6. efficiency (there is a complete decompression of the spinal root, the pain syndrome is stopped and the conduction disturbance in the nerve roots is eliminated, the functional properties of the intervertebral disc are restored, the defects of the fibrous ring are eliminated). The effectiveness of these interventions is 80-90%;
7. minimal side effects and complications;
8. long-term hospitalization is not required (the duration of hospitalization is determined by a specialist doctor individually, taking into account the protocols of management and instructions. Usually it takes 1-2 days);
9. short recovery period. (the postoperative period does not require long-term rehabilitation and significant restrictions on physical activity).

CONTRAINDICATIONS

• Pronounced degenerative changes of the spinal disk (the height of the disk is reduced by more than 1/2; considerable dehydration of the disk);
• presence of a hernia which occupies more than 1/3 of the spinal canal; sequestered hernia;
• sequestered hernia;
• pronounced degenerative stenosis of the spinal canal accompanied by neurovascular compression phenomena;
• evidence of compression of spinal roots of two to three adjacent spinal bones;
• worsening neurological symptoms (muscular weakness, paresthesia, indicators of palsy or plegia);
• spondylolisthesis;
• segmental spinal instability in the area of the affected disk;
• traumatic injury of the spinal cord;
• presence of a tumor;
• occurrence of a local or generalized infection;
• spinal deformity;
• presence of spondylolysis;
• previous intervention on a spinal disk at the area of the planned intra-disc procedure.

PREPARATION FOR SURGERY INTERVENTION

In order to increase the effectiveness of the manipulations, it is necessary to determine clear indications and contraindications.

To determine the indications and contraindications for performing one of the indicated methods of treatment of intervertebral hernias and associated pain syndromes, as well as choosing the most optimal one, it is necessary to consult a specialist neurologist and neurosurgeon of our Center.

Consultations by specialist doctors are held in room G207 (see schedule information below).

HOW TO GET SURGICAL TREATMENT OF VERTEBRAL DISC HERNIA AT THE RCMC

1. Call the Contact Center to make an appointment with a neurologist N.M. Chechik or, before hospitalization, contact neurosurgeon Kravets O.A.
   Consultations by specialist doctors are held in room Г207 according to the following schedule:
   
   Neurologist, Candidate of Medicine, associate professor Natalia Mikhailovna Chechik
   Monday 10:30-12:00
   Tuesday-Thursday 11:30-13:00
   
   Neurosurgeon, the highest category, Oleg Aleksandrovich Kravets
   Wednesday 17:00-20:00
2. Come to the consultation on time
3. Conclude a contract for the provision of paid services at the registry on the day of hospitalization.
4. Pay the invoice at the cash desk of the RCMC or via ЕРИП (SSIS: Single Settlement and Information Space)

The information provided on the website is for informational purposes only and may be subject to change.