MGM Healthcare, Chennai – India
About Dr. S. Karunakaran
Dr. S. Karunakaran (Karunakaran Sivasubramanian) is the Director and Senior Consultant in Spine Surgery at MGM Healthcare, Chennai, and founder of Dr. Karunakaran Spine Centre, Anna Nagar. With 25+ years of experience and 1,000+ spine surgeries performed, he is a pioneer in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy under local anaesthesia in Tamil Nadu and the first surgeon in South India to use the INSPACE interspinous implant for lumbar canal stenosis.
- 25+ years of spine surgery experience; 1,000+ surgeries including scoliosis, cervical, disc replacement, and 3D-printed spinal implants
- MBBS — Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University (1995); MS Orthopaedics — Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai (2000); DNB Orthopaedics — Medical Council of India (2001)
- International training: Dr. Sebastian Ruetten (St. Anna Hospital, Germany, 2013), Dr. Antony Yeung (Phoenix USA, 2013), Hospital for Special Surgery New York (2003), AIIMS (2004)
- Mohandas Weller Gold Medal — Indo-German Orthopaedic Foundation 2017; ASSI Travelling Spine Fellowship 2005; Best Publication Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association 2010
- Executive Committee Member — Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI); Member — Asian Academy of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Qualifications & Credentials
Medical Degrees
- MBBS — Rajah Muthiah Medical College & Hospital, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India — 1995
- MS (Orthopaedics) — Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute (Harvard Medical International Associated Institution), Chennai — 2000
- DNB (Orthopaedics / Orthopaedic Surgery) — Medical Council of India (Diplomate of National Board) — 2001
Fellowships & Special Training
- Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery — Seoul, South Korea — 2004
- Interlaminar Percutaneous Endoscopic Cervical & Lumbar Spine Surgery — Dr. Sebastian Ruetten, St. Anna Hospital, Herne, Germany — 2013
- Advanced Endoscopic Spine Surgery — Dr. Antony Yeung (Father of Endoscopic Spine Surgery), Phoenix, USA — 2013 (Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar disc surgery, Dorsal Endoscopic Rhizotomy, Percutaneous Fusion techniques under local anaesthesia)
- Observership — Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), New York, USA — 2003
- Observership — Shriners Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, USA (Dr. Randal Betz) — 2003
- Observership — AIIMS, New Delhi (Dr. Aravind Jayaswal) — 2004
- Advanced Cadaveric Hands-on Training — Bumrungrad Hospital, Bangkok (Dr. Sebastian Ruetten) — 2017
Certifications & Accreditations
- Tamil Nadu Medical Council Registration
- Executive Committee Member — Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI)
- Member — Asian Academy of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
- Member — Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- Member — Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association
- Member — Orthopaedic Association of South Indian States (OASIS)
Areas of Expertise
Major Conditions Treated
- Lumbar & Cervical Disc Herniation (Disc Prolapse / Slipped Disc)
- Lumbar Canal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis (Grade 1 & 2)
- Scoliosis & Spinal Deformity
- Spinal Tuberculosis & Infections (Spondylodiscitis)
- Spinal Tumours
- Cervical Myelopathy & Radiculopathy
- Degenerative Spine Disease
- Spinal Trauma & Fractures
- Chronic Discogenic Back Pain
Sub-specialties
- Percutaneous Endoscopic Spine Surgery (PESS): Pioneer of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy under local anaesthesia in Tamil Nadu — performing sutureless, day-care spine surgery for disc prolapse and canal stenosis with minimal post-operative recovery time. A key reason patients seek Dr. Karunakaran as one of the best minimally invasive spine surgeons in Chennai, India.
- 3D-Printed Spinal Implants: Pioneer in the use of 3D-printed spinal implants in Chennai — applying cutting-edge additive manufacturing technology for customised spine reconstruction.
- Spinal Pain Management: Expert in interventional pain management including foraminal epidural steroid injections, facet blocks, discography, selective nerve root blocks, and PRP injections for discogenic pain.
Advanced Procedures & Treatments
- Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy (PELD) under Local Anaesthesia
- INSPACE Interspinous Implant for Lumbar Canal Stenosis
- Minimally Invasive PLIF / TLIF (Spinal Fusion)
- Disc Replacement Surgery (Artificial Disc)
- Scoliosis & Kyphosis Deformity Correction
- Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Foraminal Epidural Steroid Injection & Facet Block
- PRP Injections for Discogenic Low Back Pain
- Translaminar Screw Fixation (Cervical Spine)
Professional Experience
Current Affiliation
- MGM Healthcare, Nelson Manickam Road, Aminjikarai, Chennai — Director & Senior Consultant, Spine Surgery (Present)
- Dr. Karunakaran Spine Centre, Anna Nagar East, Chennai — Founder & Director (Present)
Past Affiliations
- Gleneagles Global Hospital, Chennai — Director, Institute of Advanced Spine Services (Past)
- Government General Hospital / Madras Medical College, Chennai — Contract Medical Consultant, Dept. of Orthopaedics — 2005–Present; Assistant Professor, Dept. of Orthopaedics — 2006 July (Past)
- MIOT Hospitals, Chennai — Junior Orthopaedic Consultant (Past)
- Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai — Consultant Spine Surgeon — 2003–2004 (Past)
Academic & Research Roles
- Executive Committee Member — Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI)
- Faculty & Teaching Faculty — multiple national and international spine surgery workshops and conferences (IOA, ASSI, India Spine Boot Camp, etc.)
- Fellowship Secretary — Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association — 2009
- 70th Annual Meeting of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, New Orleans, USA — 2003
- 11th Congress of International Musculoskeletal Laser Society (IMLAS), Seoul, Korea — 2004
- Spine Week, Singapore — 2016
Key Achievements
- Pioneer — Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy under local anaesthesia in Tamil Nadu
- First surgeon in South India to use INSPACE Interspinous Implant for lumbar canal stenosis
- Pioneer — 3D-printed spinal implant in Chennai
- 1,000+ spine surgeries performed including scoliosis, disc replacement, and cervical spine pathologies
- Mohandas Weller Gold Medal & Fellowship Award — Indo-German Orthopaedic Foundation — 2017
Awards & Recognitions
National & International Awards
- Mohandas Weller Gold Medal & Fellowship Award — 10th Anniversary Meet of the Indo-German Orthopaedic Foundation, India — 2017 (for paper on single-level stabilisation in grade 1 & 2 spondylolisthesis)
- Best Publication Award — Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association Journal — 2010 (for 'Morphometric Evaluation of the Cervical Spine Pedicle in our Population')
- ASSI Travelling Spine Fellowship Award — Association of Spine Surgeons of India — 2005
- Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association Travelling Spine Fellowship Award — 2006
- Dr. V.T. Ingalhalikar Gold Medal — ASSICON Kochi 2013 (for paper on Translaminar Screw Fixation C6C7/C7D1)
Professional Memberships
- Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI) — Executive Committee Member
- Asian Academy of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
- Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association
- Orthopaedic Association of South Indian States (OASIS)
- Indian Medical Association (IMA)
Research & Publications
Published Papers (Selected)
- Morphometric Evaluation of the Cervical Spine Pedicle in our Population — Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association Journal — 2010 (Best Publication Award)
- Analysis of Lumbar Spine Stabilization and Fusion in Grade I & II Listhesis — Indo-German Orthopaedic Foundation (International Paper Presentation) — 2002
- Tuberculosis of Cervicodorsal Spine — Indo-German Orthopaedic Foundation (International Paper Presentation) — 2002
- Translaminar Screw Fixation for C6C7 and C7D1 — ASSICON Kochi — 2013 (Dr. V.T. Ingalhalikar Gold Medal)
- Temporal Pattern of Pain following Transforaminal Steroid Injection in Lumbar Disc Herniation — BOSCON 2019
Ongoing Research & Clinical Interests
- Percutaneous endoscopic spine surgery outcomes in day-care settings
- Minimally invasive spinal fusion techniques and outcomes
- 3D-printed spinal implants — clinical applications and outcomes
Estimated Treatment Costs
| Procedure / Consultation | Estimated Cost (INR) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Spine Surgery Consultation | ₹800 – ₹1,500 | $10 – $18 |
| Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy (Local Anaesthesia) | ₹1,20,000 – ₹2,50,000 | $1,440 – $3,000 |
| Minimally Invasive PLIF / TLIF (Spinal Fusion) | ₹2,00,000 – ₹5,00,000 | $2,400 – $6,000 |
| Artificial Disc Replacement | ₹3,00,000 – ₹6,00,000 | $3,600 – $7,200 |
| Scoliosis Correction Surgery | ₹4,00,000 – ₹9,00,000 | $4,800 – $10,800 |
*Indicative estimates only. Actual costs subject to hospital pricing, case complexity, and insurance. Contact Cancer Rounds for a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What advanced technologies does Dr. S. Karunakaran use in Spine Surgery treatment?
Dr. Karunakaran uses advanced percutaneous endoscopic spine surgery systems (including transforaminal and interlaminar endoscopic techniques learned from Dr. Sebastian Ruetten, Germany and Dr. Antony Yeung, USA), 3D-printed spinal implants, INSPACE interspinous implants, minimally invasive fusion techniques, and interventional pain procedures — performing day-care, sutureless spine surgeries under local anaesthesia.
2. What conditions does Dr. S. Karunakaran specialise in treating?
Dr. Karunakaran specialises in minimally invasive spine surgery — treating lumbar disc herniation, cervical disc disease, lumbar canal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, spinal tuberculosis, spinal tumours, and chronic discogenic back pain — for patients seeking the best spine surgeon in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
3. How do I book an appointment with Dr. S. Karunakaran?
Appointments with Dr. S. Karunakaran can be booked directly through the Cancer Rounds website or by contacting their international patient department for priority scheduling.
4. Can international patients receive treatment from Dr. S. Karunakaran?
Yes. Cancer Rounds provides full assistance for international patients seeking treatment from Dr. S. Karunakaran, including medical visa invitation letters, airport transfers, and local accommodation coordination.
5. What support is available for international patients?
International patients benefit from a dedicated concierge service provided by Cancer Rounds, including language interpretation, financial counselling, and pre-travel virtual consultations to review medical records before arrival.
6. Does Dr. S. Karunakaran offer second opinions for Spine Surgery cases?
Yes. Second opinion consultations can be arranged via Cancer Rounds for patients seeking expert Spine Surgery review from a specialist in Chennai, India.
