Back surgery (spinal surgery) at Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital

At Spire Tunbridge Wells, we have expert orthopaedic (bone and muscle) 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 dedicated nurses and physiotherapists will provide expert aftercare to help you get the most from your operation.

At Spire Tunbridge Wells, our consultants are highly skilled at performing back surgery for a variety of conditions. Your consultant will be able to recommend the best type of surgery for your needs. This may include one or more of the following:

• Discectomy – to remove part of a slipped disc and relieve associated symptoms
• Laminectomy – to remove part of a vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal cord
• Spinal fusion – to strengthen your back

We’re able to offer surgical techniques and innovations that have been designed to improve outcomes. These include:

• Minimally invasive discectomy, which uses smaller incisions than traditional techniques, intended to improve recovery time
• Synthetic bone substitutes for spinal fusion so there’s no need to remove and use bone from elsewhere in your body – this is only occasionally used when appropriate

At Spire Tunbridge Wells, we have two operating theatres with laminar flow. These theatres regulate air flow to reduce the risk of infection.

Getting here

We're located in Kent, six miles from the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells. The nearest station is Tunbridge Wells, which is approximately six miles from the hospital. We have free parking on-site for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

Your initial consultation will take place in one of our 11 accessible private rooms, so don’t worry if you have difficulty walking. During your consultations, we’ll:

• Ask about your medical history
• Say whether you need 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 private rooms. You’ll stay 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 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
• Satellite television
• Free WiFi
• Telephone
• Personal nurse call system

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: