For patients in South Africa

Spine surgery in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

This page is an overview of the spinal treatments we arrange in Turkey, written for patients travelling from South Africa. They range from a short injection to a major operation that takes months to heal, and which one suits you depends on your scans, not on which sounds simplest.

Guides for South African patients

Each spinal treatment has its own South African guide:

• Spinal fusion in Turkey from South Africa
• Laser disc decompression in Turkey from South Africa
• Epidural steroid injection in Turkey from South Africa
• Spinal cord stimulation in Turkey from South Africa

Spine care is part of our wider orthopaedic service; see the orthopaedic surgery guide for South African patients.

Spinal treatments we arrange

Each link goes to the full treatment page; the overview is on the spine surgery page.

• Spinal fusion — joins two or more vertebrae permanently to stabilise the spine; a major operation under general anaesthesia with several days in hospital
• Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) — a needle-based laser treatment that reduces pressure inside a herniated disc, usually under local anaesthetic with mild sedation
• Epidural steroid injection — anti-inflammatory medication injected near irritated spinal nerves to ease back, neck or leg pain
• Spinal cord stimulation — an implanted device that sends mild electrical impulses to change how pain signals travel, for chronic nerve pain

It starts with your scans

No spinal treatment is planned without a medical review. Before anything is booked, the specialist will want to see recent MRI or CT scans and the radiology reports, a summary of your symptoms, and what you have already tried: medication, physiotherapy, injections or earlier surgery. A neurological examination is done in person before treatment.

Fusion is normally considered only after conservative treatment has had a fair trial, and the specialist may say that a different treatment, or none, fits better.

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir
• Visa: South Africans apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Length of stay: from a few days for an injection or PLDD to considerably longer after spinal fusion; the specialist decides when you are fit to fly, so book a return ticket you can change
• The long flight home: sitting for ten hours with a sore back is hard, and after major surgery it raises the risk of blood clots; ask the surgeon what to do on the flight
• Recovery: depending on the treatment plan, some patients recover at Mandarin Grove near İzmir between check-ups
• Cover: South African medical schemes generally do not cover planned treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes it; check with both before you book

Continuity of care at home

Spinal treatment does not end when you land. Before you book, decide who will see you in South Africa: your GP, a physiotherapist and, for fusion or spinal cord stimulation, a local specialist. Take all scans, reports and implant or device details home with you. Follow-up continues by message and video call, and Turkey is only one hour ahead. Complications arising from treatment, and any revision that becomes clinically necessary, are covered for one year from the date of treatment by our treatment guarantee. If a claim is accepted, the treatment is carried out in İzmir by the treating team at no charge for that treatment, but flights and accommodation remain your responsibility, and the guarantee does not cover treatment by another provider after you return home.

Facts about the clinic are on the clinic facts page, and if something goes wrong you can use our complaints process.

What we will not do

We will not confirm a plan before a specialist has reviewed your scans, we will not promise pain relief or a result, and we will not treat you if your health makes it unsafe. A long journey is not a reason to choose a bigger operation, or to fly home before the specialist is satisfied.

Frequently asked questions

Which spinal treatment do I need?

That depends on your scans, your symptoms and what you have already tried. Send your MRI or CT scans and reports, and the specialist will say which treatment, if any, is appropriate.

Can I send my MRI from South Africa before I travel?

Yes, and you should. The specialist reviews recent scans and reports before any plan is confirmed, and a neurological examination is done in person before treatment.

How long will I need to stay in Turkey?

It depends on the treatment. An epidural steroid injection or laser disc decompression usually needs only a short stay, while spinal fusion means several days in hospital and a longer stay before the flight home. The specialist decides when you can fly.

Who will look after me when I get home?

Follow-up with the treating team continues by message and video call, and Turkey is only one hour ahead. Arrange a GP, a physiotherapist and, for major surgery or an implanted device, a local specialist before you travel.

Will my medical aid cover spine surgery in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover planned treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes it. Ask both specifically before you book.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.