Second opinion and Revision Lumbar Surgery

Patients presenting with recurrent symptoms after having had previous back surgery pose a major challenge. Further revision surgery is more difficult as the anatomical planes are absent following previous surgery with scarred tissue planes. This makes the second surgery more difficult, with increased bleeding, risk of nerve injury, leakage of spinal fluid as well as increased risk of infection.

I believe that in this group of patients a strong case can be made to offer them revision surgery approaching the spine from the side rather than going from the back again. The advantage is that going from the side of the spine will provide a virgin plane to indirectly decompress the nerves, minimizing the risk of bleeding, infection, nerve damage and the usual complications associated with posterior revision surgery. This minimally invasive XLIF (lateral) approach shortens the hospital stay and allows faster recovery for this otherwise difficult surgical patients. I genuinely believe that this approach is unique in these cases. Obvioulsy like all spinal cases, patient selection remains the key.

Patient Testimonials

Charles Slater: "I have undergone many spinal treatments including spinal injections, physiotherapy."

Ken Houlbrook: "I am 77 years old, a keen golfer but have had back and leg pain that started 10 years ago."

Calum Currie: "Having experienced debilitating sciatica, numbness and burning in my legs, along with serious back pain for many years, I had also received two previous decompression surgeries before finally coming down from Scotland to Leeds to find Mr Pal for help."

Sean Mahon: "After several months of suffering unbearable back pain due to a fractured spinal vertebrae, which prevented me sleeping and walking for more than a few steps, I was referred to a Sheffield surgeon who declined to operate on my spine but said I should see Mr Deb Pal, a Neurosurgeon in Leeds."

Krystyna Ellis: "I have endured back pain since 2007 and have had four previous spinal surgeries. It was expected that in time I may become paralysed due to pressure by a big disc on my thoracic spinal cord."