Dr. Sarang Gotecha is a senior spine surgeon serving PCMC patients from clinics in Wakad and Thergaon. With MCh Neurosurgery and a Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery fellowship from Seoul, he treats slip disc, sciatica, spinal stenosis and spinal fractures using techniques that reduce hospital stay to 1 to 2 days.
Back pain in PCMC has become a quiet epidemic. The Hinjewadi IT corridor alone employs over 200,000 professionals, most of whom sit at desks for ten to twelve hours a day. The Chakan industrial belt sees regular lifting injuries and accident-related spinal trauma. And the older residential pockets of Nigdi, Akurdi and Pradhikaran are home to thousands of senior citizens dealing with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, roughly 60% of adult Indians experience significant lower back pain at some point in their lives. The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre reports that fewer than 8% of patients who actually need spine surgery receive it from a fellowship-trained spine specialist. Most are treated by general orthopaedic surgeons or by neurosurgeons without dedicated spine training.
This is the gap Dr. Sarang Gotecha's PCMC practice is built to address. As an MCh-qualified neurosurgeon with a dedicated fellowship in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery from St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, he brings a depth of spine-specific training that very few surgeons in the PCMC belt can match.
Not every back pain needs a surgeon. In fact, most do not. But there are warning signs that mean a spine surgical opinion is the right next step rather than another round of painkillers.
You should consult a spine surgeon if you experience any of the following:
A consultation does not commit you to surgery. It commits you to a clear diagnosis and an honest opinion on whether surgery is necessary. Many PCMC patients walk out of the first visit with a non-surgical plan and a clear timeline for review.
A cervical disc herniation happens when the soft inner material of a disc in the neck pushes outward and presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord. The pain is felt in the neck but typically radiates into the shoulder, arm or fingers, often with numbness or weakness.
In Hinjewadi and Wakad IT workers, this is one of the most common spine diagnoses. Long hours hunched over laptops accelerate cervical disc wear. Most cases settle with physiotherapy and posture correction. When they do not, or when there is significant arm weakness, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the standard surgical option.
Lumbar disc prolapse is the textbook cause of sciatica. A disc in the lower back herniates and compresses the sciatic nerve root, sending pain shooting down the buttock and leg. The pain is often worse when sitting and is sometimes accompanied by foot numbness or weakness.
About 80 to 90% of lumbar disc prolapses resolve with six to twelve weeks of conservative treatment. For the remainder, surgical options include microdiscectomy and minimally invasive endoscopic disc surgery. The choice depends on the size and position of the disc fragment, the patient's symptoms and overall health.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that develops over years as discs collapse, ligaments thicken and bone spurs form. The classic symptom is leg pain that comes on while walking and is relieved by sitting or leaning forward. Many older patients in Nigdi, Akurdi and Pradhikaran live with stenosis for years before seeking help.
Decompressive laminectomy, with or without spinal fusion, is the standard surgical treatment. Outcomes are typically good to excellent in well-selected patients. The aim is not just pain relief but restoration of walking distance and independence.
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward over the one below it. This causes both pain from instability and neurological symptoms from nerve compression. In symptomatic cases with confirmed instability, spinal fusion with pedicle screw fixation restores alignment and stops the painful abnormal movement.
The Mumbai-Pune Highway passes through the PCMC region and contributes to a steady volume of road-traffic spinal injuries. Falls from height (common at Chakan construction and manufacturing sites) are the second-largest source of spinal trauma. Fracture fixation surgery is performed urgently in cases with instability or neurological deficit. The goal is to protect the spinal cord, restore stability and allow early mobilisation.
There are dozens of doctors offering spine treatment across PCMC. The reasons patients specifically choose Dr. Gotecha tend to fall into four categories.
MCh in Neurosurgery is the highest postgraduate qualification in the field in India. Beyond that, Dr. Gotecha completed a dedicated fellowship in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul. He also holds a World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies fellowship from the National Neuroscience Institute in Singapore. Very few spine surgeons available to PCMC patients hold both these international fellowships at the same time.
Dr. Gotecha does not operate on MRI findings alone. Two patients with the same scan can have very different treatment paths depending on age, symptom severity, work demands and overall health. Many patients who come in expecting surgery leave with a non-surgical plan instead. The honest answer matters more than the busy schedule.
Consultations happen in PCMC for convenience. Actual surgical procedures are performed at Manipal Hospital, Baner, where the operating microscope, neuronavigation system, CUSA (Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator) and full ICU back-up are available. This consult-PCMC, operate-Baner model works well for almost all patients.
Many PCMC patients prefer to discuss their condition in Hindi rather than English. Consultations are conducted in either language, with full explanation of the diagnosis, treatment options and recovery process. No patient should have to make a major surgical decision without fully understanding the reasoning behind it.
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is not a single procedure. It is a set of techniques that allow many of the same surgeries (discectomy, fusion, decompression) to be done through small incisions, with tubular retractors and endoscopes, rather than the large open cuts used traditionally. The clinical results are equivalent or better in suitable cases, but the recovery is faster. Full details are on the dedicated minimally invasive spine surgery page.
The benefits PCMC patients consistently report include:
Not every patient is a candidate for MISS. Complex deformities, multi-level fusion cases and certain tumour resections still require open techniques. The first consultation determines which approach is right for your specific anatomy.
Cost is the question every patient eventually asks. Honest ranges, based on typical Manipal Hospital Baner pricing, are below. These exclude room category upgrades, implant brand variations and any extended ICU stay.
| Procedures/ Surgeries | Indicative Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Lumbar microdiscectomy | Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh |
| Endoscopic discectomy (MISS) | Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3.5 lakh |
| Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) | Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh |
| Minimally invasive lumbar fusion | Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5.5 lakh |
| Decompressive laminectomy | Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3.5 lakh |
| Complex spinal deformity correction | Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh and above |
Manipal Hospital, Baner is empanelled with all major health insurers including Star Health, HDFC Ergo, Bajaj Allianz, Care Health, ICICI Lombard, New India Assurance and most government schemes. The hospital's insurance desk handles cashless pre-authorisation directly with the insurer.
Consultations are held at two PCMC locations. Both clinics offer the same quality of consultation and MRI report review. Patients typically choose based on which one is closer to home or work.
The Wakad clinic serves patients from Hinjewadi (Phases 1, 2 and 3), Tathawade, Punawale, Ravet, Kaspate Vasti and Wakad itself. It is roughly ten to fifteen minutes from most parts of the Hinjewadi IT corridor by road. Parking is available within the Sonigara Landmark complex.
Address: Clinic No, 304 , 3rd Floor, Sonigara Landmark, near Chatrapati Chowk Road, Dynasty Society, Vishnu Dev Nagar, Wakad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra 411057
Hours: Monday to Saturday - 9 AM to 9 PM | Sunday - Closed
Phone: +91-9322288645
Email: dr.sarangsgotecha@gmail.com
Address: Pudumjee Paper Mill Colony, Thergaon, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra 411033
Hours: Monday to Sunday - 9 AM to 9 PM
Phone: +91-9322288645
Email: dr.sarangsgotecha@gmail.com
The Thergaon clinic serves patients from Thergaon, Chinchwad, Pimple Saudagar, Kalewadi, Rahatani and Pimple Nilakh. Its position near Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital makes it convenient for second opinions and follow-up after admissions elsewhere in PCMC.
Many PCMC patients arrive nervous, having been told elsewhere that they need surgery. The first visit is structured to give you clarity, not pressure.
A typical first consultation includes:
Bring all imaging films, reports and your current medication list. If you have a previous diagnosis from another doctor, bring that report too. The aim is to give you a second opinion that is genuinely independent, not one influenced by what someone else already said.
Recovery varies significantly between procedures. The timelines below apply to most patients in good general health.
Physiotherapy is part of recovery for every spine procedure. The clinic coordinates with physiotherapists in Wakad, Hinjewadi and Pimpri so that you can continue rehabilitation close to home.
If back pain or sciatica has started to affect your work, sleep or daily routine, the right next step is a proper diagnosis. Call 09322288645 to book a consultation at the Wakad or Thergaon clinic, or visit the contact page for clinic timings and directions. You can also learn more about Dr. Sarang Gotecha and his training, or read about his approach to spine care in detail.
