Myelopathy Treatment in Turkey
About Myelopathy
Key Highlights
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Decompresses the spinal cord to relieve pressure on critical nerve pathways.Halts the progression of neurological symptoms like weakness, numbness, and loss of coordination.Can prevent permanent spinal cord damage and potential paralysis.Often leads to significant pain reduction and improved mobility.Tailored surgical approaches (anterior, posterior, or combined) address specific causes of compression.May involve spinal fusion to provide long-term stability./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Progressive neurological deficits such as weakness in arms or legs, loss of fine motor skills, or gait disturbances.
- Cervical or thoracic spinal stenosis causing significant cord compression.
- Herniated disc(s) severely compressing the spinal cord.
- Spinal instability from trauma, tumor, or advanced degenerative disease.
- Failed conservative management (physical therapy, medications) with worsening symptoms.
- Presence of myelopathic signs on physical exam (e.g., hyperreflexia, clonus, positive Hoffman's sign).
- MRI or CT myelogram evidence of significant spinal cord compression.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive neurological examination and imaging review (MRI, CT) to plan the surgical approach.
- Pre-operative medical clearance, including cardiac and pulmonary evaluation.
- Discontinuation of blood-thinning medications (e.g., aspirin, warfarin) as advised by the surgeon.
- Pre-operative counseling to set realistic expectations about outcomes and recovery.
- Fasting for 8-12 hours before surgery as per hospital protocol.
- Arranging for post-operative support and transportation for discharge.
Risks & possible complications
- General surgical risks: infection, bleeding, or adverse reaction to anesthesia.
- Nerve injury, which could worsen neurological deficits or cause new numbness/weakness.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, potentially requiring further intervention.
- Hardware-related complications if fusion is performed (e.g., screw malposition, implant failure).
- Failure to relieve symptoms or progression of myelopathy.
- Adjacent segment disease (accelerated wear at spinal levels above/below the surgery).
- Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) or pulmonary embolism.
- Difficulty swallowing or hoarseness (more common with anterior cervical surgery).
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial hospital stay for monitoring neurological status, pain management, and mobility assessment.
- Wearing a cervical collar or brace as prescribed for spinal stability.
- Gradual increase in walking and light activities, avoiding heavy lifting, bending, or twisting.
- Attending prescribed physical therapy to rebuild strength, coordination, and range of motion.
- Managing pain with prescribed medications and watching for signs of infection (fever, redness).
- Follow-up appointments for wound checks and imaging to assess healing and fusion (if performed).
- A gradual return to work and daily activities over several weeks to months, depending on the procedure and individual progress.
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Typical hospital stay:
3-7 days
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Expected recovery time:
6 weeks to 6 months for full functional recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering myelopathy in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for myelopathy in Turkey include Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir, Istinye Üniversitesi Hastanesi Liv, Liv Hospital Ankara, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform myelopathy. MediFyr helps you compare spine surgeons 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 myelopathy compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Myelopathy in Turkey
These partner hospitals in Turkey have dedicated spine surgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing myelopathy.
Istanbul, Turkey
140 Doctors
Follow-up visit for my cervical disc...
Follow-up visit for my cervical disc replacement. Dr. Dwivedi remembered my daughter's board exam results and asked about them first. His staff coordinated with insurance for my scans - clinical excellence matched by human touch.