Spine Surgery Abroad: A Step-by-Step Medical Tourism Guide

Written By: Aditi | Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Ruchika

Apr 17, 2025

Spine Surgery Abroad a Step-by-Step Medical Tourism Guide

Introduction

The high cost of private healthcare, particularly for complex procedures like spine surgery, is driving an increasing number of uninsured people from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to explore options for affordable spine surgery abroad. For such people, this blog aims to provide an overview and step-by-step guide on availing spine surgery abroad.

Looking at the crucial considerations for medical travelers, we will have a comparative analysis of popular medical tourism destinations for spine surgery abroad, and talk about strategies for securing the best spine surgery option at the most affordable prices.

Why Do People Choose Spine Surgery Abroad?

To answer this question, let's first learn about the medical travel stories for spine surgery abroad of these two gentlemen, one from the United States of America and one from New Zealand.

Mr. Christ Sierzant is from the United States and has been suffering from a cervical spine injury, leaving him in debilitating pain, where every movement felt like a struggle to him. And since he is a contract worker, he does not enjoy the luxury of a comprehensive health insurance cover. The cost of cervical spine surgery without insurance privately in the USA was coming to about USD 1,50,000, which he could not afford at all.

This is when he started to look for an option of travelling to another country and having the spine surgery abroad. While exploring and comparing quotes from different countries like Germany, Singapore, and others, he figured out that the robotic cervical spine surgery in India with IndiCure Health Tours was not only the most advanced minimally invasive technology, but also the most affordable option among others.

You can listen to him speak about his story here - https://www.indicure.com/blog/medical-tourism-for-spine-surgery-reviews/

Mr. Skot, from New Zealand, had been suffering from severe back pain that made him struggle with daily life chores and had been restricted to very limited walking with the support of crutches. He was put on a long waitlist for spine surgery, and he could not afford the surgery privately in New Zealand. Finally, he chose to travel to India with IndiCure for his spine surgery abroad.

When the initial diagnosis in India didn't suggest a clear case of surgery for him, a multi-disciplinary team of surgeons arrived at the decision that Mr Skot does not need the surgery at all! He was suggested a change of his regular medication and to undergo a targeted physical rehabilitation therapy for at least three weeks in India.

By the end of three weeks, Mr Skot finds himself pain-free and walking without the need of crutches. He was miraculously well without a spine surgery, and at a fraction of the cost he was prepared to spend!!

You can listen to him speak about his story here - https://www.indicure.com/blog/a-new-zealanders-medical-travel-reviews-in-india/

A few common things come out of these success stories, and those are the ones that prompt most people from Western countries to travel out of their home country -

Long Waiting Times: Patients from Western countries, especially from the USA, find themselves waiting even for a first consultation with their local surgeon, before waiting even longer for a surgical appointment. As a lot of patients have reported, this may easily be six to nine months or even more than a year. While symptoms frequently worsen, their health and quality of life also steadily decline.
The success of spine surgery, to a great extent, also depends on the extent and length of spinal issues the patient has been facing before the procedure. And the delay in undergoing the surgery not only results in poor quality of life, but also jeopardises the outcome of the surgery.
Prohibitively High Costs: Spine surgery can be extremely expensive, so much so that even those who spend their entire life savings may still struggle to afford it. The situation becomes even more challenging and dire for individuals without insurance coverage. To give you an idea, here's a look at the typical costs of some commonly performed spinal procedures in the United States:
Specialised Techniques/ Technology not available locally: The realm of spine surgery is getting more advanced and complex. With the arrival of AI, Robotics, and Neuro-monitoring, other newer breakthroughs are happening very fast. Spine surgery, which once used to be an orthopaedic surgeon's domain, is now more and more performed by neurosurgeons or surgeons specialised in performing spine surgeries.
Many a time, the sophisticated technology or technique and the skillset required to perform the surgery are not available locally, forcing the patient to look for spine surgery abroad.
Lack of Highly Experienced Surgeons: As in Mr. Skot's case, you require the expertise of a highly trained and experienced surgeon who understands your problem, diagnoses it correctly, and then offers the most appropriate solution. And if that expertise is not available locally, or you need to wait for years to get to the specialist, people choose to travel overseas for their medical treatment, a phenomenon called medical tourism.

Crucial Considerations for Spine Surgery Abroad

When opting for spine surgery abroad, it is essential to make some crucial considerations that can significantly impact both the outcome of the procedure and the overall experience, thus helping one make the right decisions for availing spine surgery abroad.

Here is an indicative list of considerations that one must make before deciding to undergo spine surgery abroad:

Choice of a Medical Tourism Destination: The rising trend of medical tourism has encouraged several countries to offer attractive private healthcare options to international patients. However, selecting the right destination is crucial and involves a thorough evaluation of below factors mentioned below, as each country presents a unique set of pros and cons. Additionally, understanding the legal, cultural, and logistical aspects of receiving treatment in a foreign country can help one make better-informed and confident decisions.
Cost of the Surgery: Understanding how spine surgery costs vary between countries is a key part of planning treatment abroad. A large number of patients often turn to international options to access excellent care while saving substantially compared to domestic costs.
Below is a quick comparison (in USD) of some commonly performed spinal procedures across popular destinations for spine surgery. As you'll see, India consistently stands out as the most cost-effective option without compromising on quality.

While it is important to compare prices between various countries, it is also equally important to note that the cost varies depending on the material used, the surgeon's experience and expertise, the technique and technology used, and how complex the surgery is. Even the same country can offer varied costs for the same surgery at different hospital facilities. So, when opting for spine surgery abroad, compare apples to apples to clearly understand what you are signing up for.
Surgeon's Expertise: Check the profile of the neurosurgeon, how qualified and experienced he or she is in performing the type of surgery you need to undergo, and how successful their outcomes have been. It is always helpful if you get on a video call with the surgeon before you sign up for the procedure.
Technique Used for Surgery: There are different techniques and approaches that can be used to treat the same problem. For example, the same procedure can be done using an open approach, a minimally invasive approach, through Robots, endoscopically, etc.
The less invasive techniques, such as Minimally Invasive Spine surgery or Endoscopic Spine surgery, reduce downtime, thus allowing quicker recovery and return to work. It is important to get the details about which technique shall be deployed for your spine surgery before you choose to travel for your spine surgery abroad.
Technology Available: The advancement in technology has made spine surgery safer and easier than ever before. Technology like Neuro-navigation, Intra-operative MRI, augmented reality (AR) visualization, computer-assisted navigation, AI for surgical planning, 3D-printed custom implants, robot robot-assisted surgery have all aided in high precision, reducing the risks, and improving outcomes in spinal surgery. You must check what technology will be used for your surgery.
Hospital's Accreditation: Whether or not the hospital is accredited and has backup facilities in terms of emergency care is an important thing to consider when you choose to undergo spine surgery abroad.
Language & Communication: If the surgeon and the people you need to deal with understand and speak your language, it makes communication much easier and your stay much more comfortable.
Accommodation and Local Transfers: Also take into account travel expenses, visa regulations, and the availability of accommodation when choosing a location for spine surgery abroad. Choose countries that have reputed medical tourism companies like IndiCure Health Tours, which arrange visas, accommodation, inland transfers, consultations with the surgeon, etc., even after you go back, thus making your medical travel easy and seamless.
After Care & Follow Up: For spine surgery to be successful, after care is essential. Find out what kind of follow-up and aftercare treatments are offered before committing to a spine surgery abroad. This could involve care, remote consultations, or advice on handling any potential issues.
Political Stability and Culture: Choose a destination that is safe with no political or economic instability and where you are at ease with the local language and culture.

Choosing Among Top 5 Countries for Spine Surgery Abroad

Most of the leading medical tourism associations and publications have consistently recognized these five countries as the top 5 destinations for spine surgery abroad:

Germany: Germany is one of the most popular destinations for spine surgery abroad because of its advanced medical technology and top-notch healthcare system. German spine surgery centres use cutting-edge techniques and materials to provide the most advanced medical care for spine surgery patients.
India: India has grown to become one of the most popular destinations for spine surgery abroad. Not only do one get the best-in-class health services, but surgeons are highly skilled and trained; the cost of surgery is a fraction of what one would pay in other countries. The added advantages are that language is not a barrier, with English widely spoken, and zero waiting times.
South Korea: South Korean hospitals offer state-of-the-art technology and have trained doctors, which makes it a popular destination for medical tourism for spine surgery.
Singapore: Though a small country, Singapore has earned a great reputation for medical care. State-of-the-art facilities, highly trained doctors, and healthcare professionals have consistently given the country a great reputation among medical tourists.
Turkey: Strategic location, low cost, and great tourist attractions have made Turkey a popular destination for spine surgery abroad. Language, however, is a challenge as Turkish is the language of communication, and that poses a huge barrier for a seamless medical tour.

Let us now sum up the key advantages and disadvantages of having spine surgery abroad in each of these top 5 medical tourism destinations, which can greatly help one decide one destination over the others.

Country	Advantages	Disadvantages
Germany	Advanced Technology State-of-the-art Facilities	High Cost Language Barrier
India	Advanced Technology State-of-the-art Facilities Highly Trained Surgeons Low Cost No Language Barrier	Developing country with high population- traffic and crowd can be a culture shock
South Korea	Advanced Technology State-of-the-art Facilities Highly Trained Surgeons Low Cost No Language Barrier	High Cost Language Barrier
Singapore	Clean, well-regulated environment State-of-the-art facilities Advanced Technology	High Cost
Turkey	Low Cost Easy Visa Strategic Location	Language Barrier Technology is not as advanced as in other destinations

Why is India Best Value Destination for Spine Surgery Abroad?

India is one of the most popular medical tourism destinations for spine surgery abroad. Some of the reasons that make it a go-to destination over other destinations are:

Lower Costs: The cost of spine surgery in India is a fraction of the cost of surgery in the US, and much less even compared to all other destinations. For example, the cost of Spinal Fusion surgery in India is USD 4500-7500, whereas the cost of Spinal Fusion Surgery in Germany is around USD 30,000-40,000, while in the USA it is as high as USD 90,000-160,000.
Highly Trained & Experienced Surgeons: India boasts some of the finest and highly trained spine surgeons, who have years of training and experience behind them. Brain and spine surgeons like Dr. Mazda Turel, who are known for their balanced yet assertive approach to neurosurgery, combine cutting-edge techniques with a deep commitment to patients' well-being.
Availability of Advanced Technology: Neuro-navigation, Intra-operative MRI, Computer-assisted navigation, AI for surgical planning, 3D-printed custom implants, Robot-assisted surgery, are some of the technological adoptions that Indian surgeons are accustomed to, and are routinely using in case of complex spine surgery cases.
Accredited Hospitals: Some of the best spine surgery hospitals in Indiare JCI/NABH-accredited, which is the highest accreditation for any healthcare organization. This ensures that the level of care and services is at par with the best in the world.
No Language Barrier: All the doctors and most of the nurses and support staff at the hospital understand and speak English, leaving minimal to no chances of miscommunication or information loss during translation.

Once the choice of a medical tourism destination for spine surgery abroad is made, it's time to meticulously plan the medical tour to ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises along the way.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Spine Surgery Abroad

Planning for spine surgery overseas may feel overwhelming at first, but with the right preparation, the process can be smooth and stress-free. To help you navigate the journey, we've put together a step-by-step guide outlining the key stages involved in getting spine surgery abroad.

This guide will help you understand what to expect, how to prepare, and how to avoid any unwanted surprises along the way, ensuring a safe and successful medical trip for spine surgery abroad.

Pre-Travel Arrangements

Get Your Treatment Plan: It is important to know what your treatment plan would entail- what surgery you would undergo, which technique shall be deployed, whether it shall be an open or minimally invasive, or robotic surgery, etc. What safety measures would be in place, and how technologically advanced the hospital is- you should get answers to most of these questions in the treatment plan itself.
Video Consultation with the Surgeon: A video consultation with the surgeon would always help you understand what you are signing up for and what you can expect from the surgery.
Obtain Medical Visa: Most countries would want you to obtain a medical visa for your surgery. Check how easy or difficult it is to get the medical visa and how you can get help in obtaining the visa.
Book Your Flight Tickets: After you have the visa and have figured out the timelines for staying in the country, book your flights.
Look for Suitable Accommodation Near the Hospital: You would need to stay in the country for a few days after the surgery for your rehabilitation and follow-up. You can either find a suitable accommodation yourself or ask your medical tourism company to arrange things for you, according to your requirements.

Travel

We understand that medical travel for spine surgery can be quite overwhelming. Flying long hours while you are in pain can be daunting on your mind and body. Here are some simple tips you can follow when you are travelling for spine surgery abroad:

Support Your Spine: To support your spine while traveling, it is a good idea to pack an air-filled seat cushion, memory foam pad, ergonomic backrest, or neck pillow. Experts advise adjusting your seat to a 100-degree angle, but you can locate one that suits you.
Stretch: During a long flight, stretching while seated on an airplane helps to activate the muscles and relieve pain. Occasionally, try rolling your ankles, shoulders, and neck. You can also repeatedly lift your heels or lean forward.
Cold and Hot packs: Travel pain can be greatly reduced by using hot and cold packs.

On Arrival

Consultation with the Surgeon: This shall involve physical examination and detailed face-to-face consultation with the surgeon. It is a good idea to bring the list of questions that you have written and get answers to all your questions when you meet the surgeon face to face.
Pre-operative Investigations: This shall usually involve Blood tests, ECG, MRI of the spine, lung function tests, chest X-ray, and even echocardiography to make sure you are fit to undergo anaesthesia.
Surgery: The surgery is usually done under general anesthesia, and you need to stay at the hospital for 4-5 days or so, depending on how many levels of spine surgery have been performed.
Post Operative Care & Rehabilitation: Post-op care and physiotherapy play a crucial role in recovery by helping patients regain strength, mobility, and function, while also managing pain and preventing complications.
Follow Up Appointments: A couple of follow up appointments with the surgeon ensure that you are on the right path to recovery, there are no complications or infections, your range of motion is good, and if any adjustments are needed to adjust physical therapy plan or medication or any other aspect of the surgery.

Departure

Your Questions & Recovery: It is important to get answers to all your questions about recovery/getting back to work, and intense activities before you depart. Make sure you know whom to contact, if need be, after you have gone back to your country.

If doing all of this feels overwhelming, here is an easier access to the best surgeons, top hospitals, with end-to-end facilitation of the complete medical tour for spine surgery abroad.

IndiCure Health Tours: An Easier and Trusted Way for Spine Surgery Abroad

IndiCure Health Tours is one of the most trusted names when it comes to arranging complete medical tours to India for spine surgery abroad. Having treated patients from more than 50 countries for more than 15 years now, IndiCure understands the requirements of medical travellers from different cultural backgrounds and offers a well-researched, customised solution, keeping patients' best interests in mind.

The patient gets a curated plan for spine surgery abroad in close consultation with some of the best spine surgeons in India. Along the way, the patient is provided with the best estimates on the cost of surgery, video consultation with the surgeon, medical visa processing, a detailed itinerary, choice of accommodation options, airport pick up, and transfers between the hotel and hospital.

IndiCure also offers post-surgery consultations remotely with the treating surgeon even after the patient has gone back to their home country. There is a long list of delighted medical tourists from Western countries with IndiCure, and one can have a look at medical tourism testimonials of all the patients who have trusted IndiCure and have transformed their lives for good.

If someone is suffering in pain for a lack of affordable spine surgery options at home, India, with IndiCure, is the right choice for a spine surgery abroad. Just fill in an enquiry form on the IndiCure Website or write to IndiCure at info@indicure.com or call/WhatsApp us at +91 9320036777 and make the process of availing spine surgery abroad easy and stress-free!