Spine surgery Sydney
The future of spine surgery is here, and it’s happening in Sydney
“The future of spine surgery is already here. With endoscopic and robotic spine surgery, patients recover faster and with less pain. And I’m proud to be bringing these advances to Sydney.”
Dr Shanu Gambhir
Neurosurgeon Sydney
Spine surgery in Sydney is changing fast. With endoscopic and robotic techniques, I focus on less pain, faster recovery, and getting you back to life sooner.
Spine surgery types
A new era of spine surgery in Sydney
As a neurosurgeon and spine surgeon in Sydney, I’ve seen the world of spine surgery evolve at an incredible pace. Years ago, open surgery with big cuts and long recoveries was the only option. Today, many of my patients are walking the same day, going home within 24 hours, and even returning to work just after a few days of surgery.
This is possible thanks to new techniques like endoscopic spine surgery and robotic spine surgery. Around 80% of the spine surgeries in my practice are now done endoscopically.
“Endoscopic spine surgery is truly the least invasive way of doing spine surgery.”
Dr Shanu Gambhir
Neurosurgeon Sydney
Types of spine surgery: an overview
Open spine surgery: the traditional approach
Open spine surgery still has an important role in certain complex cases. It involves a large incision and moving muscles aside to reach the spine.
The downsides are clear; more pain, longer hospital stays, and slower recovery. That’s why I reserve open surgery for when no other safer or less invasive option will achieve the best result.
Endoscopic spine surgery: precise and ultra minimally invasive
Endoscopic spine surgery uses an incision of less than 1 cm, with a small camera and tools that allow me to treat spinal problems through a narrow passage.
It can help with herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, slipped vertebrae, and even certain tumours or infections.
The benefits are clear:
- Much less surgical pain
- Walking the same or next day
- Faster return to normal life, sometimes back at work in just two days
Robotic spine surgery: precision for fusions
Robotic spine surgery adds another layer of safety and accuracy. I use a robotic arm to help guide screw placement during posterior spinal fusion surgeries. The robot doesn’t operate on its own; I plan every step using detailed 3D scans of your spine.
Here’s how it works: before robotic spine surgery, I use CT imaging to create a 3D model of your spine. On this model, I map out the exact entry points, angles, and depths for each screw. During surgery, the robotic arm locks itself into the precise position I’ve chosen. It acts like a guiding frame, allowing me to drill and place the screws along the pre-planned path with sub-millimetre accuracy.
This is particularly helpful for procedures such as posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).
“Endoscopic spine surgery is truly the least invasive way of doing spine surgery.”
Dr Shanu Gambhir
Neurosurgeon Sydney
Sydney is leading the way
Looking ahead: what the future holds
Spine surgery is moving towards being safer, less invasive, and quicker to recover from. I believe in ten years time, we’ll see:
More day-only procedures with no hospital stay
Some spine surgeries performed awake under local anaesthetic
Endoscopic fusion techniques combined with robotics
Spine surgery Sydney
Why choose me as your spine surgeon in Sydney
As a spine surgeon in Sydney, my philosophy is always the same; surgery is the last resort. If surgery is necessary, I’ll always use the least invasive, most effective option available.
“I’m proud to have pioneered endoscopic spine surgery in Sydney. My focus is always on safe surgery, faster recovery, and patient-centred care.”
Dr Shanu Gambhir
Neurosurgeon Sydney
