Complex Spinal Surgery Without the Overnight Hospital Stay

MUSC uses minimally invasive procedures to cut down on recovery time

CHARLESTON -- Imagine being able to leave the operating room hours after a intricate spinal surgery like a fusion, so to recover in the comfort of your own home. For the estimated 64 million people in the United States who suffer from chronic back and leg pain, outpatient spinal surgery is a viable option.

The outpatient spinal surgery program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is bringing a national trend to the Lowcountry by offering ambulatory transport for patients undergoing standard fusions, decompressions and the less invasive disc removal. Band-aid sized incisions and advanced tools and imagery in the operating room minimize pain and recovery time. ìOutpatient procedures like these are good for professionals wanting to return to work quickly,î said Dr. Sunil Patel, neurosurgeon at MUSC. ìOverall recovery is faster. Some patients have even gone back to work the very next day.î

Since the programís implementation two months ago, MUSC surgeons have performed 20 spine surgeries at the outpatient level. There are no age limitations for the cervical and lumbar spinal procedures, which are offered once a week.

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 10,000 employees, including 1,300 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.3 billion. MUSC operates a 600-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit www.musc.edu or www.muschealth.com.

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