Back surgery (spinal surgery) at Spire Dunedin Hospital

At Spire Dunedin Hospital, we have a choice of expert orthopaedic (bone and muscle) spinal consultants and neurosurgeons who perform back surgery, to help you return to your everyday activities as quickly as possible. They’ll provide you with a treatment and recovery plan that’s personalised to you and your needs. Our consultants work in pairs to support each other during surgery, so there’s always surgical back-up. Our dedicated nurses and physiotherapists will provide expert aftercare to help you get the most from your operation.

At Spire Dunedin Hospital, we offer trusted and clinically proven surgical techniques for a variety of conditions. Your consultant will be able to recommend which type of surgery is best for you. This may include one or more of the following:

• Spinal injections – to relieve pain and inflammation around spinal nerves, usually performed under local anaesthesia as a day case, helping you get back to normal function without the need for an operation
• Microdiscectomy – used to treat a slipped disc or sciatica by removing the part of the disc which is pressing on the nerve
• Spinal decompression (laminectomy) – used to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves by removing the compressing part of the bony vertebral canal and discs
• Spinal fusion – used to strengthen your back when you have wear, tear or damage creating spinal instability and can involve the insertion of metal rods into the vertebrae

We treat all spinal problems including the cervical (neck), thoracic (chest) and lumbosacral (lower back) areas of the spine.

We’re able to offer surgical techniques and innovations that have been designed to improve outcomes. These include minimally invasive techniques that will help you to recover faster. Some of our consultants use synthetic bone substitutes for spinal fusion surgery, so there’s no need to remove and use bone from elsewhere in your body.

We also have two laminar flow operating theatres that regulate air flow to minimise the risk of infection.

Getting here

Spire Dunedin Hospital is conveniently situated close to the heart of Reading, on the A4 Bath Road. We’re a short walk from Reading West station and a 10 minute taxi ride from Reading mainline station, with direct trains to and from London. If you wish to drive to your appointment we have free parking on-site for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

Your initial consultation will take place in one of our 15 accessible consultation rooms, so don’t worry if you have difficulty walking. During your consultations, we’ll:

• Ask about your medical history
• Say whether you need to be referred for an X-ray, and/or an MRI or CT scan so your consultant can examine your back in more detail, if you haven’t been diagnosed yet
• Tell you about the particular surgical method your consultant recommends and what it'll involve
• Explain about the general anaesthetic and how it may affect you
• Give you a chance to ask any questions you have about your surgery

On the day of your procedure, you’ll meet your healthcare team, including your anaesthetist and your consultant again. You’ll be shown to one of our 32 large, bright, private rooms. You’ll be with us for one to four days, depending on the type of surgery you have.

If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge or restaurant while you have your operation.

Before surgery, you’ll be given a general anaesthetic, so you’ll be unconscious throughout the procedure. Once it’s taken effect, your consultant will begin your surgery.

After surgery, you can begin your recovery in your private room. All our rooms have:

• En-suite bathroom
• Window
• Television
• Guest seating

It’s normal to feel some pain or discomfort after back surgery, so to make your recovery easier, you’ll be given:

• Medications to help you manage pain, prevent infection and reduce the risk of clotting
• Sessions with one of our physiotherapists, who'll give you an exercise plan to help you get active again, plus a guide to how long your recovery will take

Although everybody’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical recovery timeline for back surgery: