Bhubaneswar, Mar 12: Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar successfully treated a 25-year-old female from Manipur who had been suffering from severe low back pain radiating to both legs for nearly two years. A health worker serving her community, she had visited several hospitals across India and taken medications, but the pain continued to return. Over time, the condition worsened to the point where she could barely walk 50 metres and could not stand for more than five minutes. MRI scans revealed a right-sided L4–L5 disc prolapse, a condition where the soft disc between the spinal bones slips out and presses on a nerve. While some doctors advised open surgery with fixation, she was hesitant due to fear of complications and the possibility of paralysis at a young age.
After learning about minimally invasive spine procedures, she approached Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar in search of a less invasive treatment option. Doctors initially attempted a nerve root block, an injection given near the affected nerve to reduce pain and inflammation, but it did not provide the expected relief. Following a detailed evaluation, Dr. Kasinath Swain, Consultant Spine Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar recommended a Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic (UBE) discectomy, an advanced keyhole spine procedure. The surgery uses a small camera and specialized instruments inserted through tiny openings to remove the slipped disc pressing on the nerve while preserving surrounding muscles and maintaining spinal stability. The procedure was successfully performed, providing her significant relief from pain.
Dr. Kasinath Swain, Consultant Spine Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, said,
“Many young patients ignore persistent back pain until it starts affecting their daily activities. In cases where a slipped disc compresses the nerve, minimally invasive techniques like UBE discectomy allow us to treat the problem effectively with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues, which supports faster recovery.”
The patient showed rapid improvement after the surgery. On the first day after the procedure, she was able to walk comfortably without back or leg pain and was discharged earlier than patients who undergo traditional open spine surgery.
Sharing her experience, the patient said,
“Last year I started having back pain and pain in my right leg. I visited a few hospitals and took medicines, which helped for some time, but the pain kept coming back. In the last month it became very severe and I could not walk or stand for long. I was also scared about surgery. After the procedure, my pain has reduced a lot and I am slowly getting back to my normal activities.”
This case highlights Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar’s capability in performing advanced minimally invasive spine procedures that help patients recover faster and return to their daily lives.
