WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

DRILLING close to an artery means there’s a small risk of major bleeding or blood clot.

THERE’S a small risk of nerve damage or infection.

AROUND 15 per cent of patients will need the other side operated on, too.

‘Around two thirds of patients get a significant benefit from this,’ says Michael Grevitt, a consultant spinal surgeon at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. ‘Most say there is no pain afterwards or rate it a one or two out of ten.’