Patient Name : Mrs. Parihar
Age : 58 years
Introduction
Lumbar canal stenosis is a common cause of back pain, leg pain, and walking difficulty in elderly patients. Compression of spinal nerves can lead to radiculopathy, numbness, weakness, and bladder symptoms. In this case, timely minimally invasive spine surgery in Pune resulted in excellent recovery. This page details a successful TLIF surgery performed by Dr. Sangram Rajale, a leading Spine Surgeon in Pune.
Patient History & Presentation
The patient presented with chronic low back pain radiating to the right lower limb for several months. Symptoms included tingling, numbness, neurogenic claudication within 7 minutes of walking, sleep disturbance, and early bladder involvement. Clinical examination showed altered gait, weakness of right EHL, and sensory deficits in L5 and S1 dermatomes — classical signs of degenerative lumbar spine disease with nerve compression.
Diagnosis & Radiology Findings
MRI of the lumbosacral spine revealed spondylo-degenerative changes with marked lumbar canal stenosis at L5–S1. These findings explained the patient’s radiculopathy, claudication, and neurological deficits. Imaging correlated well with clinical symptoms, confirming the need for surgical decompression.
Surgical Procedure
A minimally invasive L5–S1 Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) was performed under general anesthesia.
The procedure included:
- Targeted laminectomy and nerve decompression
- Removal of compressive degenerative elements
- Interbody fusion using GESCO implants
- Stabilization to prevent further nerve compression
Is spine surgery safe?
Yes, when done with proper indication and minimally invasive techniques.
What is the recovery time after TLIF?
Most patients begin walking within days and improve steadily over weeks.
Can endoscopic or MIS surgery treat stenosis?
Yes, selected cases respond exceptionally well to MIS approaches.
Post-operative Recovery
- Early neurological improvement
- Full weight-bearing ambulation with walker support
- Significant reduction in leg pain
- No post-operative complications or fever
- Stable wound healing
Long-Term Outcome
The patient achieved:
- ~90% radicular pain relief
- Improved walking endurance
- Better standing tolerance
- Resolution of sleep disturbance
- Restoration of daily functional activities
- High patient and family satisfaction
Why Surgery Was Necessary
Surgery was indicated due to:
- Progressive neurological symptoms
- MRI-confirmed severe nerve compression
- Failure of conservative treatment
- Early bladder involvement
Timely intervention prevented permanent neurological damage.
About Dr. Sangram Rajale
Dr. Sangram Rajale is a Spine Surgeon in Pune specializing in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery. He is known for evidence-based decision-making, advanced surgical techniques, and consistently strong clinical outcomes. His spine clinic in Bavdhan, Pune, treats complex degenerative spine conditions with precision and care.
FAQs
His expertise in MIS and endoscopic techniques, combined with ethical decision-making and consistent outcomes, builds patient trust.
Surgery is advised only after correlating symptoms, imaging, neurological deficits, and failure of conservative treatment.
The presence of claudication, sensory loss, and bladder symptoms required timely and precise decompression.
Structural instability and nerve compression at L5–S1 required decompression with fusion for durable relief.
Expected improvement was gradual; actual recovery showed early ambulation and 90% pain relief.
Yes, when surgery is appropriately indicated and performed using MIS techniques.