THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A three-day international conference on spine health and care began in the capital on Friday. Experts from across the country and abroad, including researchers and specialists in treatment of spinal disorders and interventions, began deliberations on a wide spectrum of spinal conditions, latest scientific and technological advancements in the field and the best treatment methodologies.
The conference, which began at Leela-Raviz Kovalam, is being organised by the Trivandrum Spine Society along with Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI), one of the largest professional organisation of spine surgeons globally.
Inaugurating the conference, Dr S Rajasekaran, former president of ASSI and Indian Orthopaedic Association said spinal disorders constitute one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. More than 80 per cent of the adult population experience back or neck pain attributable to a spinal condition during their life time. Unhealthy lifestyle and work conditions have led to a high prevalence of these problems in India. Spinal disorders have a direct adverse impact on the productive years of life. He reiterated that these need to be addressed as a public health issue.
It is all the more important to be aware that most conditions are treatable non-surgically and surgically with good long-term outcome,” he said.
The conference is giving special focus on long-term outcome of different spinal treatment modalities. Dr Ranjith Unnikrishnan, spine specialist at KIMS Hospital and organising secretary of the conference, said human spine, subjected to daily stress, loses flexibility and discs start degenerating.
People should make conscious effort to ensure their day-to-day activities do not take a toll on their spine by subjecting it to unusual and undesirable wear and tear. Health sector need to create awareness so that people with recurring back pain, aches and joint stiffness would come forward for proper diagnosis and corrective treatment at an early stage.
The conference on its first day saw case studies and deliberations on treatment options for spinal conditions mostly affecting adults and those in aging process like wearing down of Inter vertebral disc (degenerative disc disease), shrinking and narrowing of spinal canal (spinal stenosis), disc prolapse, spinal arthritis, degenerative spondylosthesis (vertebra slips forward due to weak joints and ligaments of spine and loses alignment) and compression fractures.
The three days’ scientific sessions include talks, workshops and seminars on surgical and minimal invasive options for all major conditions affecting spine including Spinal Trauma, Infections, TB spine, Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression fractures, tumors, Thoracic Disc Herniations, Paediatric Spinal Deformity, Adolescent Scoliosis, Supra Axial Spine and Adult Spinal deformity.