A neuro-spinal surgeon in Dubai has used an endoscopic cervical surgery to treat 40-year-old Naomi Belinda Carr Sutherland, a Dubai-resident who had been suffering from severe neck and shoulder pain for a number of years.

Dr Chan-Shik Shim, neuro surgeon and medical director at Wooridul Spine Centre, Dubai, in collaboration with Mubadala Healthcare, announced the successful completion of the UAE’s first ever percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD), a minimally invasive spine surgery used to treat cervical disc herniation diseases.

“Prior to my surgery, I had recurring episodes of extreme pain and limited range of motion due to a compressed nerve in my spinal disc. I am now free from discomfort and I can finally live a normal pain-free life,” said Naomi Sutherland.

The advanced PECD procedure uses a very small tube (around 5mm in diametre) and laser to remove portions of the patient’s spinal disc that press on nerves or other parts of spinal cord. It helped relieve Naomi from pain, removed the weakness she felt in her left arm and has helped prevent any further nerve defects. Her recuperation period was extremely fast due to the short operation and hospitalisation period and the minimally invasive nature of the procedure.

Wooridul Spine Centre is a partnership between Mubadala Healthcare and Wooridul Spine Hospital in South Korea. The centre is dedicated to the treatment of spinal injuries and chronic back pain. The first facility in Dubai opened in 2011 and will be joined by another larger facility in Abu Dhabi.

“Unlike conventional surgery, PECD has a high success rate with minimal complications,” Dr Shim said. Ihsan Al Marzouqi, senior vice-president at Mubadala Healthcare, said: “Successful surgeries like this are testament to the progress we are making in addressing the high prevalence of spinal problems in the region and reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment.”