Recently, I had the privilege of operating on a patient who many others had written off.
An 82-year-old gentleman had been wheelchair-bound for over six years. He suffered from:
He had visited multiple surgeons across the region, all of whom turned him away. The consensus was clear — surgery would be too risky, given his:
Each time, he left with more discouragement — and no solution.
When the patient came to my clinic at DRHC Dubai, I saw a frail man, yes, but also a spark of hope in his eyes.
We conducted a full neurological and radiological evaluation and confirmed what others had already seen:
Severe lumbar spinal stenosis at L4–L5 with critical compression on the nerves.
But I also saw something else:
Despite his age and frailty, his spinal cord and nerve roots were still viable, and I believed that a minimally invasive endoscopic approach might give him a second chance.
I proposed an endoscopic bilateral decompression at L4–L5 using an interlaminar technique, done through a small working channel under full endoscopic guidance.
And I was honest with his family:
“There’s a 50/50 chance. But if it works, he could walk again.”
They bravely chose hope.
The surgery took just under three hours.
Every step was done with precision, protecting the nerves and ensuring full decompression — with as little trauma as possible.
What happened next shocked even the most seasoned members of my team:
This case reinforces a truth I hold deeply:
With modern endoscopic techniques, we can offer hope where others may see only risk.
Mr. X’s story is not just about spine surgery — it’s about believing in possibilities.
I’m grateful he trusted me. I’m grateful we dared to try. And I’m proud that he now walks — after six long years of sitting still.
Dr. Rami Hamed
Consultant Spine & Orthopedic Surgeon
Founder, DRHC – Dubai Healthcare City
📞 +971 4 279 8800
🌐 www.drhc.ae
📍 Dubai Healthcare City, Building 52