Spinal Surgery in Ankara

Spinal surgery is any surgical procedure performed to correct possible structural abnormalities. Surgeons can move, fix, decompress, and, if necessary, replace vertebral structures through spinal surgery. This is only considered when conservative, non-surgical treatments have not worked and the pain remains persistent, preventing patients from living a normal life and reducing their quality of life. Some common conditions that may require spinal surgery are spinal deformation, compression of the spinal cord, herniated discs, and tumors of the spinal cord, cauda equine syndrome, vertebral fractures, and degenerative disc disease.

There are numerous types of spinal surgery. The type of surgery you will receive depends on your disease or injury, the location, the level of damage, as well as your own characteristics. Some of the most common types of spinal surgery are as follows:

• Spinal fusion – during spinal fusion, your surgeon will join spinal bones (vertebrae) together to prevent pain caused by their movement against each other.
• Discectomy – your surgeon removes part of or the entire disc that slips out of place presses on a spinal nerve, and cause back pain.
• Laminectomy – most commonly used for lumbar spinal stenosis, this surgery involves the removal of parts of the bone, ligaments, or bone spurs in the back to relieve pressure on spinal nerves and ease the pain.
• Disc replacement – your surgeon removes the damaged spinal disc and replaces it with an artificial one.
• Foraminotomy – bones at the sides of your vertebrae is cut away to widen the space where nerves exit the spine. Like laminectomy, this is done to relieve pressure on a compressed nerve and ease pain.
• Interlaminar implant –a U-shaped device is implanted between two vertebrae in your lower back to ease pressure on your spinal nerves by keeping the space between the vertebrae open. This is a minimally invasive alternative to laminectomy.

How Long Should I Stay in Ankara?

You may need to stay in Ankara for at least 10 to 14 days following your surgery to allow for your body to recover and attend follow-up checkups, if necessary. During the follow-up checkup, your overall condition will be monitored and the surgical stitches will be removed. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery depends on the specific disease/injury you have, the type of spinal surgery you underwent, and your overall health. If you are healthy and your job is not physically demanding, you may be allowed to go back to work within 4 to 6 weeks following surgery. However, it takes at least 3 to 4 months for the bones to heal, and healing can continue for at least a year. During this period, there might be some restrictions on your activity. Remember, the recovery period is just as important as the surgery.

What Aftercare is Required?

Following all the instructions and recommendations provided by your surgical team is important to avoid complications and speed up your recovery process. You may need physical therapy following your surgery, which is aimed to restore the strength of your spine and help you return to everyday activities gradually. In certain cases, you may also need regular checkups. You can choose to undergo physical therapy and/or regular checkup at home in your local hospital if you prefer.

What's the Success Rate?

The success rate of spinal surgery, in terms of pain relief, is around 70% to 90%, depending on the type of surgery and the condition treated. The success and safety rate of spinal surgery is higher than it used to be and will continue to increase, thanks to the continuous advancement of spinal surgery. For example, today, many types of spinal surgery can be done minimally invasively. This means that no long incisions are needed, leading to shorter operative and recovery times. Still, there are risks you need to be aware of, such as bleeding, infection, blood clots, and persistent pain.

Are there Alternatives?

Spinal surgery is only considered when other treatments have not worked. If you do not want surgery, make sure to discuss this with your doctor for the best possible alternative. When surgery is not needed, you may take a pain reliever or even try acupuncture to help relieve the pain. 

Spinal Surgery in and around Ankara

About Ankara

Turkey’s capital Ankara is the second-largest city in the country and has a rich cultural heritage and serves a prominent place in history.

Ankara is a prominent industrial hub of Turkey with many manufacturing plants catering to food, beverage, and the construction of raw materials, etc. Medical tourism is also a major source of revenue for Turkey as it tops the list among the seven countries famous for thermal springs. The Medical Tourist industry in Turkey is growing 10%-15% each year and 2018 saw close to 1 million tourists who visited the country for medical treatments.

While patients from all over the world visit Ankara for medical procedures, most of them are from Libya, Germany, UK, and UAE. The big reason behind this was due to the fact that the treatments and surgical procedures in Turkey are nearly 40% cheaper than in most other European nations. There are world-class hospitals catering to a wide range of medical procedures. The city being a hot tourist destination, many patients enjoy exploring the city while getting treated. Some of the popular hospitals and Clinics frequented by tourists in Ankara include:

• Sanatoryum Hastahanesi
• Ankara University Cebeci Hospital
• SALUSS Medical Center

In addition to the aforementioned services, the recently inaugurated Ankara Bilkent City Hospital that began operations in March 2019, holds the distinction of being the biggest hospital in the country. It boasts a stupendous capacity, housing a total of 3,704 hospital beds.

Popular Areas in Ankara

The Central Anatolia Region is known to host some of the most prolific wine production establishments in the city.

Notably, the well-known Turkish Aerospace Industries, Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii A.Ş., is based in Ankara's Sincan district. This area is predominately inhabited by Turkish residents.

Ankara is an important city where most of the significant Government related activities are carried out and has become a prominent place for bureaucrats and officials. Çankaya District houses most of the Government buildings and is also one of the most popular residential neighborhoods in Turkey.

Another key urban area in Ankara is Yenimahalle. This district is renowned for the recently popularized Wonderland Eurasia theme park. In merely the first week following its grand opening, the park was thronged by nearly one million eager visitors.

Weather and Climate in Ankara

Ankara is known for its Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers making up the city's weather pattern. Contrastingly, winter seasons can be quite chilly, with the lowest yearly temperature recorded around a frigid -24.9°C. If your timing is lucky, you might even get to revel in a bit of gentle snowfall during the winter months. Namely, back in 2018, the city appreciated snowfall commencing in mid-December, signaling a winter season that was relatively warmer than those of preceding years.

June to August is an ideal time to visit Ankara. After the heat of the summer settles down, these months stay warm and dry. March to May is the next most preferred time for tourists. It is best to avoid the months of December and January, as the city can get unpredictably cold. It receives a good amount of rainfall after the winter between January and March. Hence, if you are visiting Ankara for skiing, then it is wise to reschedule your travel to early January.

Getting around in Ankara

Tourists from all over the world can reach Ankara through its Esenboğa International Airport. The primary airlines serving most of the popular global destinations are:

• Anadolu Jet
• Pegasus Airlines
• SunExpress
• Turkish Airlines

Besides this international airport, it also has the Etimesgut Air Base, the Akıncı Air Base, and the Güvercinlik Army Air Bases.

Visitors can easily navigate through the city courtesy of the efficiently networked metro rail and local bus services. The management and regulation of the railway and bus facilities are efficiently handled by Ankara Electricity and Gas Operations Business.

Ankara Central Railways Station provides connectivity to all primary points within the city. Opting for a taxi from the airport to the city center is also a reasonable choice, with fares approximated around $15. Plus, the overall taxi charges within the city are perceived to be quite fair.

Tourist Visas in Ankara

Electronic Visa Application System of the Republic of Turkey: The Electronic Visa Application System of the Republic of Turkey (e-Visa) is a system that allows citizens of certain countries to obtain a visa to Turkey online. To apply for an e-Visa, you must visit the government website of the e-Visa system. You can check the list of eligible countries on the website.

Visa on arrival: Citizens of certain countries, including Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Kenya, can choose to obtain a visa on arrival in Turkey. However, it is important to note that visa on arrival is not guaranteed, and you may be denied entry if you do not meet all of the requirements.

Visa requirements for citizens of India, China, Russia, and other countries: Citizens of India, China, Russia, and a few other countries must apply for a visa in advance before traveling to Turkey. Visas can be obtained online or at a Turkish embassy or consulate.

Additional Information

• The local currency of Ankara is Turkish Lira. The value of 1 Turkish Lira is equivalent to 0.17 USD.
• Most of the tourist spots in the city accept payments made with credit and debit cards. You can also make use of international money transfer systems. On Municipal buses and metros, you can pay with magnetic cards available at kiosks. However, it is advisable to carry cash to pay at the local buses. Most taxi drivers accept payment in local currencies only.
• ​​​​​​​The tourism police division in Ankara Police Department consists of staff who can speak multiple languages including English, French, Arabic, and Russian. Most of the younger generation and some taxi drivers also understand English. Yet not many might be able to communicate in English though.
• ​​​​​​​If you would like to enjoy the rich culture of the city, then check out the Ankara Opera House. It is popular for ballet performances and theatres. The city has a strong emphasis on arts and music.
• ​​​​​​​Kocatepe Camii is a popular destination for tourists. It is the largest Mosque in Ankara. The Mosque was built in an Ottoman architecture style, for this reason, it resembles the Mosques built in the Ottoman era, such as the famous Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also called the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul.
• ​​​​​​​The major public holidays of Ankara are the New Year’s on January 1, Labor Day on May 1, and Republic Day on October 29. So, plan your visit keeping these National holidays in mind.