Doctors from Baby Memorial Hospital (BMH) India said scoliosis surgery has become significantly safer and more predictable in recent years, citing advances in real-time neuromonitoring, surgical navigation, and multidisciplinary treatment approaches, at a press briefing held at the Granbell Hotel, Colombo on 31 July 2026.
The event, titled ‘Recent Advancements in Spine Surgery,’ featured Dr. Ananth Pai, Cluster CEO of BMH Hospital, and Dr. Easwar Ramani, Lead Surgeon for Scoliosis and Surgical Care.
Dr. Ramani said scoliosis, a condition characterised by a bend in the spine, is often more complex than it appears, noting that many children presenting with the condition suffer from associated health problems involving other systems, including the heart, lungs, legs or hip joints.
He said this complexity is why BMH follows a multidisciplinary team approach rather than relying on a single surgeon.
“It needs not a single surgeon; it needs many doctors and specialists to treat scoliosis,” he said, adding that procedures are coordinated across specialists when, for instance, a child requires hip surgery to balance the body before spinal intervention.
Addressing parental concerns over risks such as nerve damage or paralysis, Dr. Ramani said the hospital uses neuromonitoring technology that tracks nerve function throughout surgery and alerts doctors to potential risks to the spinal cord.
“Navigation systems, which he compared to GPS, allow surgeons to track the exact placement of titanium screws and implants in real time, while intraoperative X-rays confirm correct implant positioning before surgery concludes. These technologies, combined with the hospital’s experience treating thousands of cases, have made complex spine surgeries considerably safer.”
For younger patients, Dr. Ramani said the hospital uses growing rods for children as young as four and a half years old, which are adjusted through small incisions as the child grows until a permanent procedure is performed around age 12.
“Surgery is not always necessary, and that non-surgical treatments such as specialised braces, physiotherapy, and exercises are used depending on the severity of the spinal curve. I appeal parents to monitor children aged 7 to 12, particularly during growth spurts, for early signs of scoliosis such as uneven shoulders or hips, a protruding shoulder blade, or a visible hump when bending forward. Identification often allows treatment through braces alone, avoiding surgery,” Dr. Ramani added.
Dr. Pai, speaking on the hospital’s four-decade history and its ties to the Sri Lankan community, framed BMH’s approach around the concept of service, which he said is a term shared across several regional languages. It means we stand for providing service to anybody, he said.
“BMH is a 650-bed institution equipped for procedures ranging from advanced transplants to specialised paediatric spine surgery. We have invested very heavily on the latest technology, which you will find in any of the large metropolitan hospitals, or even in Europe or in the US.”
Dr. Pai also outlined financial and logistical support measures for Sri Lankan patients travelling for treatment, saying the hospital’s costs are lower than comparable care elsewhere.
“From an affordability perspective, we are significantly cheaper in the cost of treatment compared to anywhere else in the world,” he said, adding that families facing financial hardship would be treated at 20% lesser than our actual cost and that for those unable to arrange travel, the flight tickets, travel, and stay will be sponsored by the hospital as a part of giving back to the society. The hospital arranges air-conditioned transport for patients from Cochin to its facility,” he said and maintaines that contact with families in Sri Lanka after treatment could be done through regular visits and consultations by phone and WhatsApp.
Thw BMH doctors described treatment as an ongoing process rather than a single operation, with reviews at three- and six-month intervals.
“It is just like getting treated in Sri Lanka,” Dr. Ramani said, referring to the continuity of consultation and long-term care provided to patients from the island.
About Baby Memorial Hospitals
Baby Memorial Hospitals is the founding healthcare brand of BMH Group and one of Kerala’s established multi-speciality hospital networks. With a legacy dating back to 1987, the brand today spans hospitals across multiple locations in Kerala, delivering advanced tertiary care across key specialties. Anchored by its flagship hospital in Kozhikode, Baby Memorial Hospitals is home to the Nava Cancer Institute and offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment modalities backed by advanced technology, including robotic surgery systems, LINAC, and PET-CT. The network also has a strong academic and training focus, with DNB and fellowship programmes, nursing education, and a long-standing commitment to building clinical talent alongside patient-centred care.
BMH Scoliosis Helpline: 071 088 6885
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Web: https://www.babymemorialhospitals.com/
