Croatia performs first laparoscopic spinal fusion surgery

Klinička bolnica Dubrava, a hospital in Croatia, has successfully performed the nation's first laparoscopic Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) surgery. This rare and advanced procedure is used to treat lower spine conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spinal instability, spondylolisthesis, and spinal deformities.

The ALIF technique involves accessing the spine from the front, through the abdomen, to remove a damaged disc and insert an implant. This approach, performed through small incisions under camera guidance, minimizes damage to surrounding tissues, enhances surgical safety, and leads to quicker patient recovery with significantly reduced pain.

The surgery was a collaborative effort between the hospital's surgery and orthopedics departments. Experts note that such hybrid procedures are only possible in highly specialized centers. While ALIF has been performed for years, the laparoscopic approach is still in its early stages globally, making this a notable step for Croatian medicine.

KB Dubrava has been actively introducing new minimally invasive and robot-assisted neurosurgical procedures. The hospital stated that Croatian patients are gaining access to methods previously available only in a few specialized centers worldwide, highlighting this as a technological and professional leap confirming the development of top-tier medicine at the hospital.

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Croatian patients are gaining access to methods that were previously available only in a small number of specialized centers in the world. This is a technological and professional leap that confirms that top-tier medicine is developing at Dubrava University Hospital.