Nigerian Orthopaedic Surgeon Records Major Breakthrough In Spinal Surgery

A South Africa -based Nigerian orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Dennis Agbazue has brought a huge relief to spinal injury patients.

A native of Alor community in Anambra State, Dr. Agbazue who is one of the few spinal surgeons in that country who perform both uni-portal and bi-portal endoscopic spinal surgeries recorded a major breakthrough in the profession about two months ago when he successfully carried out a complex endoscopic spinal surgery on a 55-year old patient.

He achieved the feat at the Mediclinic Vereeniging Hospital , a renowned multidisciplinary private hospital situated in the city centre of Vereeniging, on the tranquil Vaal River in South Africa’s Gauteng region.

Dr. Agbazue said that before his latest feat, he had started practicing endoscopic spinal surgery in 2022 at Mediclinic Vereeniging Hospital and that within that period, he had successfully handled about 330 patients using the uni-portal technique.

He said, however, they recently started using the bi-portal technique which involves use of a camera portal and working portal, adding that the technique facilitates carrying out “more extensive surgeries.”

He said that the above technique is one of the least invasive ways to perform surgeries using endoscopic technique.

“The procedure involved a bi-portal endoscopy on the L4/L5 lumbar spine, along with a bilateral laminectomy to relieve pressure on the spinal canal and surrounding areas as well as, a disc removal and  spinal fusion.”

He said that surgery performed on the 55-year old man from Vaalpark was done using endoscopic technique, where the lumbar spine, spinal stenosis and lateral recess were all treated in one procedure.

“We released the pressure on the central part of the spinal cord and the left and right corners, and, then performed a fusion to address the spinal instability”, Dr. Agbazue stated.

He said that the 55-year old patient had a condition called spondylolisthesis where one vertebrae slips over the other one below it.

He said, “In this case, the L4 vertebra was slipping over L5. This caused spinal stenosis and pressure on the nerves”.

The patient, he explained experienced pain and cramps down both legs, making it hard for him to bend, stand, sit, or walk for a long period.

He said that because the patient was an engineer his condition made him to be struggling with his daily task.

He explained how patients are treated through endoscopic surgery technique saying ” Spinal endoscopic surgery treats spinal problems through one or two small cuts on the patient’s back.

“We use X-ray or fluoroscopy to guide us to the right spot,” he said.