Spinal Cord Injury Treatment in India

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a serious medical disorder that often causes significant morbidity and long-term disability. Motor and sensory function below the site of injury is lost when the nerve cells running through the spinal cord get damaged. Major trauma is usually the cause of injury. Such injuries may lead to irreversible disability.

Vehicle collisions or road accidents are the main cause of Spinal Cord Injury, accounting for 38% of all new SCIs each year. 30% of injuries are caused by falls, 13% by violence, 9% by sports-related injuries, and 5% by medical and surgical causes.

To decide whether Epidural Stimulation is the best course of treatment for the patient and to create an individualised treatment plan, the pre-evaluation procedure is essential. Additionally, it aids in risk assessment and assures the best outcome for the patient. A group of medical experts, including neurologists, physiatrists, neurosurgeons, and rehabilitation specialists, conduct the tests and evaluations. Recognising the injury patterns can aid in pinpointing the precise site and kind of damage sustained. It can be done viably by following techniques:

• Imaging
• Pain Radiographs
• Computerised Tomography (CT or CAT scan) can be used as the initial screen to detect skeletal abnormalities such fractures
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is required to precisely determine the severity of the Spinal Cord Injury in conditions like ligamentum flavum bulging, ligamentum flavum contusion, spinal cord oedema, spinal cord transection, and spinal cord compression

Whether a paddle lead or a percutaneous lead is the most appropriate for treating your pain will be decided by your doctor. Mostly used stimulators are percutaneous ones. However, if excessive scar tissue or anatomical impediments are blocking a percutaneous lead, your doctor can advise a paddle lead.

Irrespective of the type of Spinal Cord Stimulator to be used, the procedure is an outpatient one which is carried out while you are under general anaesthesia. The wires are then run under the skin to a little pocket that your surgeon will make on the side of your back or in one of your glutes after the implants are fastened down in a midline incision in your back. The implantable pulse generator is inserted into the pocket and wired up. Afterward, the doctor closes and covers both the incisions.

While Epidural Stimulation has shown promising results, particularly in the treatment of  Spinal Cord Injury. However, it is not without potential complications. Some of the possible complications of this treatment may include:

• Nerve Injury
• Epidural Fibrosis (formation of excessive scar tissue around the spinal nerve roots and the dural sac)
• Epidural abscess (collection of pus in the epidural space of the spine.)
• Postdural puncture headache (headache caused by the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the puncture site in the the spinal cord)
• Seroma (swelling near surgical incision)
• Hematoma (collection of blood outside the blood vessel)
• Pain at generator
• Wound infection
• Unacceptable programming
• Lead migration
• Current leak
• Generator failure

The majority of the patients are able to resume most of their typical physical activity in eight weeks after surgical intervention. You will be advised to lighten up your work for the first 6 to 9 weeks after surgery. If a patient's profession requires heavy lifting, twisting, or bending then he/she might need some more time for resuming these tasks.

Patients should attend follow-up sessions with their doctor regularly to maximise the benefits of a spinal cord stimulator implant and ensure good recovery. In most circumstances, patients will have a one-week follow-up session for the evaluation of incision sites and pain management. Another appointment will be planned two weeks after the treatment to assess the x-ray scans of the spine and give the instructions accordingly.

After receiving Epidural Stimulation, there are a few things you need to be aware of. As with the many other charging devices in our life today, you'll need to charge the system regularly. If you travel regularly, for instance, the airport security system’s potent electromagnetic fields may prevent your spinal cord stimulator from operating properly. The impact of power generators or power lines may be similar. It's advisable in these situations to disable your device until you are outside of these locations.

Due to the complexity and variety of Spinal Cord Injuries, there is no single, universally applicable success rate for their treatment. The degree and severity of the spinal cord injury, the promptness and efficacy of medical treatment, the patient's general health, and their reaction to therapy and rehabilitation are some of the variables that affect the success rate.

However, Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) has a long-term success rate that currently ranges from 47% to 74%. Epidural stimulation shows considerable potential in helping some patients regain some abilities. Some patients have even demonstrated gains in hand function, bladder and bowel control, enhanced core control, and even the capacity to breathe without the aid of a ventilator.

When compared to treatment costs in first world countries like the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the United States of America, epidural electrical stimulation for the treatment of spinal cord injuries is fairly economical in India.

The cost of treatment for a Spinal Cord Injury or epidural electrical stimulation in India is only about 35,000 USD to 45,000 USD, compared to the USA, where it costs between 70,000 USD and 100,000 USD. The price is significantly lower at some facilities, at about 32,000 USD. 

As a result, the cost of therapy in India is three times cheaper than it is in the USA. Additionally, the patient obtains high-quality care while saving up to 70% on treatment costs, including travel.

• Factors Affecting Cost of Epidural Stimulation
• The common drivers of overall cost of epidural stimulation are due to the following factors:
• Hospitalisation: The major cost contributors are associated with the length of hospital stay, medical staff, rooms, laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, blood bank, and blood products
• Patient's age and health status
• Type of spinal cord injury
• Post-surgical complications that are involved
• Choice of City for the treatment

The cost of diagnostics for Epidural Stimulation may include various preoperative evaluations and tests that are typically conducted before the surgical procedure. It mainly requires a full spine MRI scan. This scan might cost between 5000 and 10,000 rupees in India. The cost of an MRI scan is determined by the scan type (cervical, dorsal, or lumbar) and machine quality (1.5 or 3 Tesla). However, the price of a diagnostics for spinal cord injury varies significantly depending on the following factors:

• Facility type (public or private) 
• City or patient's location

Top 5 Doctors/ Surgeons for Epidural Stimulation

India’s top 5 Doctors/ Surgeons for Epidural Stimulation treatment are listed below:

Top 5 Hospital for Epidural Stimulation

The best hospital for Epidural Stimulation in India are:

• IBS; Institute of Brain and Spine Hospitals, Delhi
• Fortis Hospital, Delhi
• Apollo Hospital, Navi Mumbai
• Artemis Hospital, Gurugram
• Apollo Indraprastha, New Delhi

MedFlick, your trusted healthcare companion, is dedicated to ensuring that your medical journey goes as smoothly and successfully as possible.

• Individualized Guidance: Personalized guidance throughout your medical journey.
• Access to a broad network of prominent hospitals, top doctors, and skilled surgeons.
• Transparent and Competitive Pricing: A full breakdown of treatment costs that eliminates surprises and offers you cost-effective solutions.
• MedFlick provides everything from travel arrangements to hotel and visa help to lodging.
• Multilingual Support: Breaking down language barriers to allow patients and medical professionals to communicate more effectively.
• The road to a successful spinal cord injury treatment like epidural stimulation is long and winding, full of hope, resilience, and the promise of a brighter future. With MedFlick as your guide, navigating this life-changing adventure becomes simple and liberating.