Cervical Disc Replacement in India - Choosing the Right Hospital and Surgeon

A number of people from overseas visit India for cost savings on cervical disc replacement. Costa Rica is another country where the cervical disc replacement costs compared to North America and Europe is quite low.

This article focuses on the things you should keep in mind while looking for a cervical disc replacement hospital in India. FDA approved this procedure in July 2007, although it has been performed successfully for many years in Europe and India.

Cervical disc replacement is an effective treatment for people suffering from disc herniations (where the inner core pushes back into the spinal canal). In cervical disc replacement, an artificial disc is inserted in place of the inter-vertebral disc.

Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement is considered a better option than spinal fusion for treating cervical disc herniation. This is because cervical disc replacement maintains normal neck motion and helps the patient return to normal activity faster.

In this procedure, the surgeon removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an artificial disc made of stainless steel. The artificial disc has a ball in trough design to simulate natural neck movement.

The patient is typically hospitalized for 1-2 days and can return to work in 45 days.

The main reason for India’s popularity as a medical tourism destination is its cost-effectiveness. A cervical disc replacement surgery can cost around US $ 30,000 to $ 40,000 in USA, Canada or Europe. Also, as it is a new cervical disc replacement treatment in the US, it is not covered by all private insurers.

Therefore, patients who cannot afford to spend too much opt for getting the surgery done in India where the cost of the surgery is as low as $ 8,500 in one of the best brain and spine hospitals. Even after you add travel and accommodation costs, a cervical disc replacement surgery in India can result in substantial cost savings.

Another reason for India’s popularity is its impressive pool of medical expertise. India has many surgeons who have gained their work experience in the US and UK.

When looking for a cervical disc replacement hospital in India:

Verify that the surgeon you are considering has specialized in orthopedics.
The surgeon should have a Master of Surgery (M.S. or M.CH.) degree in orthopedics and must have undergone specialized training in spine surgery and cervical disc replacement. Ideally, the surgeon should have at least 5 years of experience.
An ideal cervical disc replacement hospital in India provides an all-inclusive package at a fixed price. Also, make sure the hospital is internationally accredited.
Preferably, the hospital should be accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). JCI is a non-governmental body in the US that accredits international hospitals that meet exacting American standards.
A JCI-accredited hospital follows international standards of quality and cleanliness and has state-of-the-art technology.
You should also ensure that the hospital has a fully-equipped operating room with specialized equipment, such as the Jackson Spine Table.
It should also have a diagnostic center with facilities for MRI scan and computed tomography.