In our time we find that the incidence of spine diseases is increasing. However, new therapeutic techniques, utilizing modern technology, offer a great deal, both in the diagnosis and preparation of the affected person, as well as in the long-term treatment of musculoskeletal diseases.

What is the main reason for the increase in the rates of diseases involving the spine?

“The vast majority of people understand that spinal pain is a result of disc degeneration. Based on international statistics, 80% of the over 40 age group will at some point complain of spinal pain due to degenerative changes.

But there are other causes which are much more dangerous. In this case it is the deformities of the spine, which are a major problem.

In particular, as a person grows older, the spine deforms, that is, it shows the Adult Scoliosis and not only as we find it in children and adolescents. In the case of adults, forward deformation of the body occurs, the so-called Kyphosis and because of this we see people over the age of 60 showing a strong forward flexion of their trunk.

Another major issue is the osteoporosis which is a major social problem in our time and is characterized by the fact that the bones become desalinated. Therefore, precisely because the bones become soft they bend forward and sideways in the spine. In these cases we see people walking stooped with a cane in hand to support their body.

The most dangerous condition, however, are Neoplasms of the spine. Benign neoplasms may be present in a small percentage, but malignant ones are often encountered. In particular, we have to distinguish the primary malignant ones, that is, those which appear right from the start in the spine from the metastatic ones, which unfortunately occur in a very large percentage. In fact, in a percentage of 15-20%, even today, the primary focus of the neoplasia is discovered by the metastasis”, points out the Mr. Georgios Sapkas Professor of Orthopaedics, Medical School of the University of Athens, Director of the Orthopedic Clinic Metropolitan Hospital.

To which specialty does the patient need to be referred?

“What should be done first of all is the clinical examination. It is never allowed to diagnose remotely or over the phone. Patients, especially women, must be examined carefully, giving a very detailed history that will start from childhood and reach adulthood. The first doctor with whom the patient should contact because the condition concerns a structural element of the body, namely the spine, is the Orthopedic Surgeon. He is the specialist par excellence who will study the patient’s history in depth and himself who will direct the patient to carry out the necessary tests”, he emphasizes.

What is the process of diagnosis which eventually leads to treatment?

“Initially a thorough clinical examination should be carried out and then a simple radiological examination should be carried out. Of course plain x-rays will rarely show anything wrong. Consequently, depending on the case, the doctor will request a CT scan, MRI scan, scintigraphy, bone density of the body, blood tests and depending on the condition that has preceded, a thorough investigation and diagnosis will be made for the proposed treatment”, he explains.

What does a more conservative approach to the problem entail?

“In this direction, there must be cooperation between the medical specialties involved, which is of great importance in order to determine what the therapeutic regimen will be applied. If it is a degenerative condition, as it is in 90% of people, in such a case the patient will need to basically follow a physiotherapy program. Of course, there are also cases that need surgical treatment”, he says.

What are the modern techniques that have entered our lives, thanks to Robotics and Artificial Intelligence?

“Artificial intelligence has brought many advantages to the field of medicine. It has not yet been applied to its entire extent, but by continuously providing evidence and data it significantly helps both at the level of diagnosis and in the application of the appropriate pharmaceutical and therapeutic treatment. It is also able to predict what the postoperative result will be in the long-term follow-up, after 3-4 years, while at the same time it can help orthopedic surgeons to perform operations more accurately and efficiently. All these parameters benefit the patient as a whole, ensuring a faster return to his daily life.

At the same time, robotic surgery can significantly assist the orthopedic surgeon in performing certain technical applications of the operation, without this meaning that it can replace the human factor. The operation is performed by the doctor, with the help of robotic technology”, he clarifies.

At what stage are we in our country, in terms of the utilization of these auxiliary tools?

“The technological infrastructure in our country in large private Hospitals, but also in some University and State institutions, is at a very good level. This is demonstrated by the fact that the number of Greek patients who leave the country to undergo this type of surgery abroad is remarkably smaller today than in the past. This results from the fact that we have the technological infrastructure and knowledge to carry them out in our country with great success”, concludes Mr. Sapkas.

*The Metropolitan Hospital’s Orthopedic Clinic, which operates 24 hours a day, with the support of modern technology and the application of the most modern medical methods, treats the full range of both urgent and chronic orthopedic diseases.

In particular, at Spine Department acute and chronic diseases are treated therapeutically, both conservatively (radioscopically directed infiltrations of the painful areas of the spine as well as the use of radio waves), as well as surgically, i.e. treatment of degenerative diseases and deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis, benign and malignant neoplasms, fractures , especially Osteoporotic etiology, kyphoplasty fractures, infections and most importantly, expertise in reconstructive surgery on the ground of previous spinal surgeries.

These operations are performed in all regions of the spine, Cervical, Thoracic-Lumbar, Saero-coccygeal, with anterior and posterior access using the most modern technological support provided by the Metropolitan Hospital. In conclusion, the human resources of the Orthopedic Clinic have extensive experience in the application of all modern techniques, in order to ensure the best choice of therapeutic method to deal with each case.