IN a historic medical milestone, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Friday successfully performed Zimbabwe’s first minimally invasive endoscopic spine decompression surgery.
The breakthrough highlights a major step forward for the country’s public health system, offering patients access to advanced spinal care that was previously only available abroad.
The procedure allows for smaller incisions, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays, signalling a transformation in the delivery of complex surgical care.
The patient, diagnosed with a complex three-level spinal stenosis, was discharged just a day after surgery — a remarkable outcome that underscores the efficiency and effectiveness of the cutting-edge technique.
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spaces within the spine narrow, place pressure on the nerves often causing severe back pain, numbness and difficulty walking.
Traditionally, such cases have required open surgery, which involves larger 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 the spinal nerves with minimal tissue disruption.
Serge Eddy Teneku Mba, the lead neurologist who headed the surgical team, called the procedure “a turning point for spine care in Zimbabwe”.
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“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 the goal of the procedure was to relieve pressure on compressed spinal nerves that cause pain, numbness or weakness.
Unlike traditional surgery, which requires large incisions and extensive muscle stripping, this technique uses a single small incision — often less than two centimetres — precisely guided 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.
The benefits to patients are immediate and profound.
“Patients experience significantly less surgical trauma and dramatically reduced post-operative pain compared to open surgery,” he said.
“They can often mobilise the same day or the next day. Hospital stays are drastically shortened — potentially just one to two days instead of five to seven days or more.”
Mba revealed that their first patient was surprised at the rapid recovery.
“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 said.
Beyond patient comfort, the procedure carries wider implications for Zimbabwe’s health delivery system.
Smaller incisions reduce infection risks, blood loss and damage to surrounding muscles.
Shorter hospital stays free up beds and nursing resources, while lower complication rates translate to long-term cost savings for the public 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 added that introducing world-class minimally invasive spine surgery in the public sector democratised access to advanced care, reducing the need for costly treatment abroad while building local expertise among surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and radiographers.
“It signals that Zimbabwe’s public health sector is actively adopting and mastering cutting-edge medical technologies. We are committed to making this a standard, accessible option for eligible patients in need,” he said.
Medical and Dental Private Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe president Johannes Marisa said the development signalled 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,” he said.
Marisa believes the milestone will pave the way for more minimally invasive spinal surgeries to be conducted in public institutions, enhancing training opportunities for local specialists and improving patient outcomes.
