—— SIX PATHWAYS · ONE DAY

The procedures we run as a daycare pathway — and the ones we won’t.

Honesty up front: not every spine problem belongs in a daycare model. Below are the six we offer as same-day cases — and at the bottom, a decision matrix that shows when a longer admission is the right answer.

01 · Full Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Indications: Herniated lumbar disc · foraminal stenosis · 7 mm portal · awake or lightly sedated

Theatre time: ~75 min  ·  Discharge: Day 0

Read the detailed page →

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02 · Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy

Indications: Posterior cervical foraminotomy · soft cervical disc with arm pain · same-day discharge

Theatre time: ~60 min  ·  Discharge: Day 0

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03 · MIS Tubular Decompression

Indications: Lumbar canal stenosis · muscle-splitting retractor · ~22 mm incision

Theatre time: ~90 min  ·  Discharge: Day 1

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04 · Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation

Indications: Facet-joint and sacroiliac pain · cooled tip widens lesion zone · durable relief 12–24 months

Theatre time: ~45 min  ·  Discharge: Same hour

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05 · Selective Nerve Root Blocks

Indications: Image-guided diagnostic + therapeutic injection · the right first step before considering surgery

Theatre time: ~20 min  ·  Discharge: Outpatient

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06 · Kyphoplasty

Indications: Acute vertebral compression fracture · osteoporotic or traumatic · cement stabilisation

Theatre time: ~40 min  ·  Discharge: Day 0

—— WHEN DAYCARE IS NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER

The honest decision matrix.

A same-day pathway is the right call only when three things line up: the anatomy, the patient, and the home environment.

Scenario	Daycare	Short-stay	Traditional admission	Surgery may not be needed
Single-level herniated disc, leg pain >6 weeks	●	○	○	○
Single-level foraminal stenosis	●	○	○	○
Central canal stenosis, multi-level	○	●	○	○
Spondylolisthesis with instability	○	○	●	○
Mostly back pain, no leg pain, MRI mild	○	○	○	●
Failed back surgery, recurrent disc	●	●	○	○
Acute vertebral compression fracture <6 weeks	●	○	○	○
Tumour, infection, severe deformity	○	○	●	○

● Recommended pathway  ·  ○ Not indicated