Thane, July 24, 2025: Defying the myths surrounding spine surgery in young adults, a 36-year-old Thane-based businesswoman whose life revolved around constant travel, appointments, and new ventures found herself suddenly halted by a grave spinal condition. What started as a stiff neck from a long road trip that exposed her to prolonged seated posture, road jerks, and repeated whiplash-type strain, it aggravated an underlying spinal condition which affected her ability to perform everyday tasks.
Facing excruciating pain, she consulted Dr. Jayesh Bhanushali, Consultant Spine Surgeon at KIMS Hospitals, Thane. Dr. Bhanushali assessed the patient’s to arrive at a conclusion that her spinal cord was already being compressed. The longer she waited, she would be exposed to more damage that included neurological one, the patient was advised to have a spine surgery.
At her age, the patient was reluctant to go for spine surgery and was under the impression that the spine surgery was only for older people or the ones who suffer from long-term disability. However, Dr. Bhanushali advocated for a solution that would be minimally invasive, motion-preserving, and allow her to get her good health back without compromising her lifestyle. The solution was Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement.
Instead of performing the traditional spinal fusion that limits neck motion, the team used an implantable biocompatible mobile, partial disc to repair the damaged disc. The surgery was completed through an incision at the front of the neck and was done within 90 minutes with minimal blood loss. She was up and walking five hours after surgery pain-free, and was discharged within 48 hours. Her grip strength was restored, bladder function normalized and she had full motion of her neck. When she learned that she could travel for the business launch in Ahmedabad in only three weeks, it was a clear testament to how far spinal surgery has come.
“It is important to maintain the mobility of young patients. Artificial disc replacement is a strong alternative to fusion. In these cases, early intervention limits the risk of lifelong disability and promotes a faster recovery. A cohesive team effort where we time the surgery appropriately and use the appropriate equipment, maximizes the quality of life and outcome. When we tackle all of the aforementioned issues. We are not only addressing the condition, but helping the patient return to a normal, active life sooner.” Dr. Bhanushali opined.
This case underscores the rapid evolution of spine disorders among young adults. Once mostly restricted to seniors, disc degeneration is taking its toll on individuals in their 30s, be it due to lifestyle habits, travel habits, postural strain or general predisposition. It is crucial to create awareness to avoid ignoring any adaptation signs until it is too late and risking irreversible damage.
At the 300-bedded KIMS Hospitals, Thane, state-of-the-art infrastructure and multidisciplinary talents are available for such prompt response to cases which require immediate attention. Dr. Bhanushali and his team are at the leading edge with treatments that cure spinal disorders and allow the patient to return to their active lifestyle with confidence.