Dr. Karunakaran. S – Pioneering Spine Surgery in South India
In spine surgery in South India, there is one surgeon who is renowned for experience, accuracy, and ingenuity – Dr. Karunakaran. S. With more than 30 years of medical practice, of which 24 years are in orthopedics and spine care, he has established himself as among the top experts in the region for minimal invasive spinal procedures.
Profile Snapshot
Name: Dr. Karunakaran. S
Qualifications: MBBS, MS – Orthopaedics
Specialties: Spine Surgeon (Ortho), Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine and Pain Specialist
Years of Experience: 30 (24 as a specialist)
Current Role: Director, Institute of Advanced Spine Services, Gleneagles Global Hospital, Chennai
Experience That Spans Decades
Dr. Karunakaran’s career began in general orthopedics, but his interest quickly narrowed to spinal surgery—a field where both precision and innovation are constantly evolving. He served as head of the spine unit at Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital in Chennai, a role that laid the foundation for his leadership in advanced spine care.
His clinical experience also features a pivotal stint at Meenakshi Medical Mission Hospital in Madurai, where he set up the hospital's first ever spine surgery department—a major milestone in increasing spine care accessibility in Tamil Nadu.
Current Practice
Dr. Karunakaran currently practices at:
Precision Spine Center, Anna Nagar East
Gleneagles Global Hospital, Chennai
At Gleneagles, he heads the Institute of Advanced Spine Services, establishing clinical standards of excellence in spinal surgery.
Specialization
Dr. Karunakaran specializes in the treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders. His clinical interests are:
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS)
Motion-preserving spinal techniques
Endoscopic lumbar discectomy with local anesthesia
Keyhole spine surgery for lumbar canal stenosis
"I believe surgery should be as minimal as possible—not just in incision size, but in overall impact on the patient's life," says Dr. Karunakaran.
His trailblazing technique in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy without sutures, especially the transforaminal and interlaminar techniques, has set him as an example to follow for young surgeons in South India.
Innovative Breakthroughs
Dr. Karunakaran's fame often precedes him by way of surgical "firsts" in the country:
First to perform INSPACE interspinous implant in South India
Pioneered 3D-printed spine modeling for surgical planning
Performed more than 1,000 complicated spine surgeries, including scoliosis correction, cervical disc replacement, and thoracotomies
These advances have enabled reduced recovery times and enhanced surgical accuracy.
Education & Global Exposure
A staunch practitioner of ongoing education, Dr. Karunakaran has learned from some of the world's top spine surgeons:
Germany (2013): Learned from Dr. Sebastian Ruetten, an international authority in percutaneous endoscopic surgery
USA (2003): Witnessed pediatric spine cases with Dr. Randal Betz, Shriners Hospital, Philadelphia
USA (2013): Learned advanced endoscopic spine procedures with Dr. Anthony Yeung in Phoenix
New York (2003): Observership with the Hospital for Special Surgery
New Delhi (2004): Observership with Dr. Aravind Jayaswal at AIIMS
Every international experience has contributed to his arsenal, which enables him to introduce international standards in Indian operation theatres.
Services Offered
At his clinics in Chennai, patients can see him for:
Treatments for herniated discs
Sciatica and back pain
Management of spinal stenosis
Correction of scoliosis
Cervical spine disorders
Post-traumatic spine deformities
Endoscopic lumbar and cervical procedures
A Calm, Patient-First Approach
Dr. Karunakaran is characterized as a careful, gentle, and highly empathetic doctor by patients and colleagues alike. He strongly emphasizes patient education, rarely suggesting surgery until every other avenue is tried.
"Many spinal issues can be treated without operating. The trick is to grasp the underlying cause, not merely treat symptoms," he usually describes.