Apollo Cancer Centre Performs India's 1st Successful Spinal Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation for Chronic Pain Relief Management

Brings life-changing relief to a 30-yr-old patient from Oman

Chennai, 20^th November 2024 – In a breakthrough towards redefining pain management, a team of spine surgeons and pain specialists at Apollo Cancer Centre (ACC), Chennai, performed India’s first Dorsal Root Ganglion stimulation surgery using spinal cord stimulator, bringing life-changing relief to a 30-year-old patient from Oman. This innovative procedure opens new avenues for individuals suffering from chronic, nerve-related pain when other treatments have failed. This marks a new chapter in pain management and showcases India’s advanced capabilities in healthcare innovation and treatment facilities.

The patient endured constant, debilitating pain in his groin and upper thigh area for over two years after undergoing surgery for a testicular tumour in Oman. After a thorough evaluation and multidisciplinary team efforts, the patient was found to have pain originating from a damaged nerve in the inguinal region (area where the lower abdominal wall meets the upper thigh). The genitofemoral nerve—a primarily sensory nerve—supplies the upper thigh and emerges from the spine, passing through muscles to reach the inguinal region. During the surgery in this area, the nerve was damaged, causing severe pain to the patient. It is known as genitofemoral neuralgia.