In a historic medical milestone, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Friday successfully performed Zimbabwe’s first minimally invasive endoscopic spine decompression surgery – a breakthrough that signals a major step forward for the country’s public health system.
The procedure, carried out at Parirenyatwa Central Hospital, offers patients access to advanced spinal care that was previously only available outside the country.
The patient, diagnosed with a complex three-level spinal stenosis, was discharged just a day after surgery — an outcome that underscores the efficiency of the cutting-edge technique.
Spinal stenosis occurs when spaces within the spine narrow and place pressure on nerves, often causing severe back pain, numbness and difficulty walking. Traditionally, such cases have required open surgery involving large incisions, longer hospital stays and extended recovery periods.
However, the newly introduced endoscopic spine decompression procedure uses small incisions and a camera-guided system to relieve pressure on spinal nerves with minimal disruption to surrounding tissue.
Lead neurologist Serge Eddy Teneku Mba, who headed the surgical team, described the operation as a turning point for spine care in Zimbabwe.
“I was privileged to lead the surgical team for this first minimally invasive endoscopic spine decompression procedure at Parirenyatwa Central Hospital. It marks a pivotal moment for our public health system,” Mba said.
He explained that unlike traditional surgery – which requires large incisions and extensive muscle stripping – the endoscopic technique uses a single small incision, often less than two centimetres, guided precisely with advanced imaging.
“Once decompression is confirmed, the instruments are removed and the tiny incision requires only a stitch or two, sometimes just steri-strips,” Mba said.
According to Mba, the benefits to patients are immediate.
“Patients experience significantly less surgical trauma and dramatically reduced post-operative pain compared to open surgery. They can often mobilise the same day or the next day,” he said.
Hospital stays are drastically shortened — potentially one to two days instead of five to seven days or more.
“Our patient could not believe that we were discharging her the following day and even requested an extra day in hospital ‘just to be sure’,” he added.
Smaller incisions also reduce infection risks, blood loss and muscle damage. Shorter hospital stays free up beds and nursing resources, while lower complication rates translate into long-term cost savings for the public health sector.
“This breakthrough is not just about one successful surgery,” Mba emphasised. “It represents a fundamental shift towards safer, faster, less painful and more cost-effective spine care within Zimbabwe’s public hospitals.”
He said the introduction of world-class minimally invasive spine surgery in the public sector democratises access to advanced treatment, reduces the need for costly procedures abroad and strengthens local expertise among surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and radiographers.
“We are committed to making this a standard, accessible option for eligible patients in need,” he said.
Johannes Marisa, president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe, welcomed the milestone, saying it reflects growing capacity within Zimbabwe’s public hospitals to adopt advanced surgical technologies.
“We are excited about this milestone and what we now need is support in terms of equipment and capacity building,” Marisa said.
He added that the development is likely to pave the way for more minimally invasive spinal procedures in public institutions, enhancing specialist training opportunities and improving patient outcomes nationwide.
Source – newsday
