A conscious choice: Local and spinal anesthesia emerge as safer alternatives in spine surgery

General anesthesia, once the default choice in spine surgeries, is increasingly giving way to local and spinal anesthesia as the preferred option for eligible patients.

Since 2024, surgeons at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) have successfully performed more than 200 spine surgeries with patients remaining awake.

While it might sound daunting, this new approach may be a safer option, especially for elderly patients and those with multiple or complex health conditions. ...