About Spondylosis
Key Highlights
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Specialized, age-appropriate care focused on the growing spine.Emphasis on conservative, non-surgical management to preserve natural growth and mobility.Utilization of pediatric-specific imaging and diagnostic protocols for accurate assessment.Multidisciplinary approach often involving physiotherapists and pain management specialists.Aims to prevent long-term disability and promote healthy spinal development into adulthood.
Who is this surgery for?
- Persistent neck or back pain in a child or adolescent unresponsive to rest and over-the-counter medication.
- Congenital spinal abnormalities (e.g., spinal stenosis, malformed vertebrae) leading to early degenerative changes.
- Neurological symptoms such as radiating arm or leg pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness.
- Significant limitation in daily activities, sports participation, or posture abnormalities due to spinal issues.
- Findings of disc degeneration, bone spurs (osteophytes), or spinal instability on MRI or CT scans in a pediatric patient.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive consultation with a pediatric orthopedic surgeon to review medical history and symptoms.
- Advanced imaging studies (X-rays, MRI) to precisely locate and characterize the spondylosis.
- Pre-operative blood tests and a general physical examination to ensure fitness for any potential procedure.
- Discussion with the child and parents about the treatment plan, expectations, and any non-surgical options.
- Guidance on ceasing certain medications (like anti-inflammatories) and fasting instructions if surgery is planned.
Risks & possible complications
- General risks of anesthesia, especially tailored to pediatric patients.
- Infection at the surgical site or in the spinal tissues.
- Bleeding, hematoma, or injury to blood vessels.
- Nerve injury, potentially leading to worsened pain, numbness, weakness, or, rarely, paralysis.
- Failure of spinal fusion (pseudoarthrosis) or hardware complications if surgery involves instrumentation.
- Adjacent segment disease, where spinal levels above or below the treatment area degenerate faster.
- Persistent pain or the need for additional procedures.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial rest with gradual, guided return to activity as directed by the surgeon and physiotherapist.
- Strict adherence to post-operative wound care and medication schedules for pain and infection prevention.
- A structured physical therapy program is crucial to restore strength, flexibility, and proper movement patterns.
- Temporary use of a brace or collar may be recommended to support the spine during healing.
- Regular follow-up appointments to monitor healing, spinal alignment, and neurological function.
- Graal reintegration into school and sports, with clear guidelines on activity restrictions.
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Typical hospital stay: 3-5 days
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Expected recovery time: 6 weeks to 6 months
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering spondylosis in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with pediatric orthopedics departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform spondylosis. MediFyr helps you compare pediatric orthopedics and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for spondylosis compare across other countries where we have data.
Vivaan Smith is a 14-year-old competitive...
Vivaan Smith is a 14-year-old competitive swimmer who has been training seriously for five years. Over the past year, he developed persistent, aching lower back pain that worsened during flip turns and intense training sessions. Initially dismissed as muscle strain, the pain became constant and began to radiate into his buttocks, severely impacting his performance and sleep. An X-ray and MRI revealed lumbar spondylosis with early disc degeneration and a stress fracture (spondylolysis) at L5. His pediatric orthopedic surgeon recommended a course of conservative treatment before considering any procedure: a strict 3-month break from swimming, targeted physical therapy to strengthen his core and paraspinal muscles, and a temporary back brace for support. Vivaan found the experience frustrating and isolating, watching his teammates from the sidelines. The physical therapy was challenging but gave him a sense of control. After three months, his pain had significantly decreased. A follow-up MRI showed good healing of the stress reaction. Emotionally, Vivaan went from feeling angry and defeated, fearing his athletic career was over, to being cautiously optimistic. He learned to manage his body's limits, incorporated lifelong core exercises into his routine, and successfully returned to swimming with modified training, valuing his health over unchecked intensity.
Pediatric Orthopedics for Spondylosis
Explore experienced pediatric orthopedics who regularly perform spondylosis and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 14 Years Experience
- Pediatric Orthopedics
Manipal Hospital Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad
- 23 Years Experience
- Pediatric Orthopedics
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Pediatric Orthopedics
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata