Transforming Spine Care in India: The Journey of Dr. Jitesh Manghwani

Health

New Delhi [India], July 24: In the rapidly evolving field of spine surgery, few names stand out like that of Dr. Jitesh Manghwani. A gold medalist with advanced training in robotic, minimally invasive, and endoscopic techniques, Dr. Manghwani is a leading voice in redefining how spinal disorders are treated in India today. With a career shaped by relentless innovation, deep patient empathy, and academic leadership, he has not only performed thousands of life-changing surgeries but also shaped the future of spine care through mentorship and technology integration.

Currently serving as the Principal Consultant and Head of Unit at Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Dr. Manghwani has built a reputation for surgical precision and compassionate care. His experience spans top-tier medical institutions, including the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Max Healthcare, Fortis, Medanta, and KEM Hospital, Mumbai.

The Beginning: A Calling Beyond Medicine

Dr. Manghwani’s journey into spine surgery was more than a career choice—it was a calling. From his early medical training, he was drawn to the intricate complexity of the spine and the profound impact spinal disorders have on a patient’s quality of life. Watching patients suffer from conditions that left them immobile or in chronic pain deeply moved him.

“Spinal ailments don’t just affect physical health—they take a toll on every part of a person’s life: their mobility, confidence, mental health, and ability to work or care for their families,” Dr. Manghwani reflects. “My mission became clear: to use precision surgery and cutting-edge techniques to give people their lives back.”

This passion would shape the rest of his journey and push him to train in the most advanced and emerging techniques in spine surgery globally.

Innovation-Driven Practice: Leading the Shift to Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery

One of Dr. Manghwani’s greatest contributions to the field has been championing robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) in India. While traditional open spine surgeries can involve large incisions, longer hospital stays, and extended recovery periods, MISS techniques use small incisions, real-time imaging, and robotic guidance to achieve the same—often better—results with reduced trauma to the body.

As a Proctor for Robotic Spine Surgery with Medtronic India, Dr. Manghwani has trained scores of surgeons across the country, ensuring the safe and standardized use of these transformative techniques.

“Robotic surgery is not just a trend—it’s the future. The level of precision it offers reduces human error, minimizes complications, and speeds up recovery. When paired with advanced navigation systems like the O-arm, it allows for incredibly accurate spinal instrumentation even in complex cases.”

This shift has had a measurable impact. Recovery times are shorter. Surgical accuracy has improved. Patients return to their daily lives sooner. And most importantly, complex surgeries that were once high-risk for certain populations—especially the elderly—are now performed with significantly better outcomes.

Recognition and Accolades: Celebrating a Career of Excellence

Dr. Manghwani’s work has not gone unnoticed. Over the years, he has earned numerous national honors and recognitions, including:

  • Named among the Top 10 Spine Surgeons in India by Silicon India
  • Winner of India’s Best Spine Surgeon award by Radio City
  • Fortune Leadership Award for healthcare innovation
  • Honored by the Physiotherapy Association of Faridabad for excellence in spinal care
  • Regularly invited as Chairperson, Faculty, and Moderator at prestigious national and international orthopaedic conferences

These accolades not only reflect his surgical skill but also his commitment to continuous learning, training, and public education in spine health.

Academic Leadership: Mentorship and Education

Beyond the operating theatre, Dr. Manghwani is deeply committed to academic excellence and mentorship. As a national-level trainer for undergraduate and postgraduate students in spine surgery, he plays an active role in shaping the next generation of orthopaedic specialists.

He regularly speaks at conferences, leads training modules, and develops curriculum content focused on robotic and endoscopic spine surgery. “The future of spine surgery lies in well-trained hands using advanced tools,” he says. “That’s why education is central to my mission.”

His mentorship is known for blending surgical rigour with real-world empathy—instilling in students not just the how, but the why behind every clinical decision.

A Defining Challenge: Treating High-Risk Geriatric Cases

One of the most challenging aspects of spine surgery today is treating elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. In such cases, traditional open procedures pose serious risks including blood loss, infection, and prolonged recovery. For Dr. Manghwani, this challenge became an opportunity to innovate.

He began combining robotic-assisted techniques with image-guided navigation, endoscopy, and keyhole approaches to develop custom, patient-specific surgical plans. The result? High-risk patients were able to undergo life-changing surgery with significantly reduced complications.

This multidisciplinary approach, especially in geriatric patients, has set new benchmarks for spinal care in India and demonstrated the practical power of combining experience with technological innovation.

Vision for the Future: Building Centers of Excellence

Dr. Manghwani’s long-term vision extends beyond individual practice. He aims to create a nationwide network of centers of excellence focused on robotic and image-guided spine care—particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where access to advanced medical technology is limited.

“Millions of patients in India live in pain because they don’t have access to safe, reliable spine care. My vision is to democratize this technology—to make advanced, minimally invasive spine surgery available not just in metros but in every corner of the country.”

He envisions a future where spine surgery is no longer feared, but embraced as a safe, quick, and highly effective solution, backed by innovation, ethics, and patient-first care.

Philosophy and Guiding Principles

At the heart of Dr. Manghwani’s work lies a set of unwavering principles:

  • Patient-Centred Care: Every decision is guided by what’s best for the patient, not just what is surgically possible.
  • Surgical Ethics: Understanding when not to operate is as important as knowing how to operate.
  • Lifelong Learning: Medicine is constantly evolving. Staying updated is not optional—it’s essential.
  • Empathy and Communication: Explaining the condition and treatment in a simple, reassuring way is the foundation of trust.

He believes that technology is a tool—but compassion is the true healer. “Patients may forget your words, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.”

Words of Wisdom: Advice to Young Surgeons

For aspiring spine surgeons, Dr. Manghwani offers a powerful piece of advice:

“Master the basics, stay humble, and never stop learning. Technology will change, but your values must remain rooted in empathy and ethics.”

He adds:

“Good surgeons know how to operate. Great ones know when not to. Be that surgeon who puts the patient first—always.”

 

Conclusion: Redefining Spine Surgery in India

Dr. Jitesh Manghwani’s journey is more than the story of a successful surgeon—it’s the story of a visionary transforming the landscape of spine care in India. From the operating room to the classroom, from rural outreach to robotic precision, his work bridges the gap between innovation and accessibility.

As the medical field continues to evolve, one thing is certain: under leaders like Dr. Manghwani, the future of spine surgery in India is brighter, safer, and more humane than ever before.

For appointments or academic inquiries, Dr. Manghwani is available at Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, and regularly collaborates with institutions and healthcare providers across India to expand access to advanced spinal care.

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