United Arab Emirates, Dubai – 15 November 2016: Surgeons at the Burjeel Hospital of Advanced Surgery have achieved a noteworthy milestone by treating a patient for an extreme case of chronic back pain with amazing results. Surgeons at the hospital performed a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion procedure on the patient, Mr. Salboukh Ghanim Kh (is this name incomplete), a 45-year old Kuwaiti army officer, who was suffering from debilitating back pain for the last eight years. It had a deep impact on his lifestyle, as even walking and standing up for long periods caused intense pain.
Mr. Salboukh flew to Dubai to consult with specialists at the Burjeel Hospital of Advanced Surgery after a friend’s recommendation and his own research on the hospital’s impressive track record in dealing with spinal and orthopedic conditions. He met with Dr Sebouh Z. Kassis, Specialist Neurosurgeon at Burjeel Hospital of Advanced Surgery.
Commenting on Mr. Salboukh’s condition, Dr Kassis said, “When Mr. Salboukh came to us, he was suffering from extreme back pain. He had visited hospitals around the region and was prescribed steroidal injections to bring down the pain and inflammation but these worked only temporarily, with the pain returning more intensely. He came to us with the hope that we could give him his life back after suffering from excruciating pain for almost a decade. We performed diagnostic tests and based on the results recommended a L4-L5 and L5-S1 transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion operation.”
This surgical technique stabilizes the spinal vertebra and the disc or shock absorber between the vertebrae. It fuses the bone adjoining the vertebrae, eliminating any movement between the bones, thus reducing pain and nerve irritation. Diseased discs are also replaced using bone grafts and metallic implants.
“We took all the necessary steps in line with international standards and the patient’s condition and history and performed the surgery, which took about five hours. He recovered successfully and was able to walk and move around without any pain two days after the surgery. After a week in the hospital, he started physiotherapy.
“We are very happy to see Mr. Salbouk’s progress and his steady return to a normal pace of life without any pain. The amazing team at Burjeel Hospital was able to achieve the complex surgery within five hours. I am very proud that we can offer these types of surgery to patients suffering from back pain caused due to degenerative disc disease and other spinal problems.”
Mr. Salboukh said he was extremely impressed with Dr Kassis and his team. “Initially I was very skeptical and scared about surgery being performed on the spine. Dr. Kassis was very professional and allayed my fears. He consulted with me about the surgery and explained everything very clearly. He prepared me for the surgery during my stay at the hospital preceding the surgery. The team took excellent care of me even on the weekend that I was in the hospital. Dr. Kassis was also with me after the surgery and was very attentive.
“I am extremely happy that after eight years of undergoing such intense pain, I am free to do a lot more activities and live my life more fully compared to my days before the surgery.
