Why People with Back Problems are Heading for Israel

Many people across the world with back problems are considering travelling to Israel for minimally invasive spinal surgery, attracted by the affordability of the procedure there and the high standards of healthcare. A top destination in the ever-growing medical tourism business, Israel is a particularly appealing option for patients who want the reassurance that their high-tech lumbar surgery is in the hands of neurosurgeons renowned for their expertise in this complex procedure.

Minimally invasive back surgery is a relatively new development that has revolutionized treatment of spinal issues, having many advantages for the patient over traditional open surgery techniques. With open surgery, a long incision is made to enable access to the problem area, while minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) entails strategically-placed smaller skin openings, typically just 2cms to 3cms long, avoiding major damage to soft tissue surrounding the spine. In most cases, MISS results in reduced blood loss, less pain after surgery and a faster recovery, with the added benefit of minimal scarring.

Minimally invasive back surgery techniques have been used in Israel for common procedures like decompression (relieving pressure on nerves) and spinal fusion (correcting vertebrae problems) since the 1990s, but are now being employed across a wider range of lumbar operations.

The minimally invasive approach, which requires only a low level of anaesthesia, involves the use of endoscopic equipment, including a miniature video camera, that allows the surgeon to see inside the patient’s back, allowing a better view than the open procedure.

Procedures that are minimally invasive provide a highly-effective option for patients in cases where non-surgical treatment, such as physiotherapy and medications, has failed to relieve the misery of chronic back problems. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies, pain in the lower back is the single leading cause of disability worldwide.