Discectomy

A discectomy is a surgical treatment that is reserved for patients who suffer from debilitating back or neck pain as a result of a degenerative disc condition in the spine.  In almost all instances, surgical intervention is only considered after other more conservative treatments have proven insufficient or ineffective. The basic goal of any discectomy procedure is to remove the source of painful nerve compression that is accompanying a bulging or herniated disc. 

Open Spine vs. Minimally Invasive

Generally speaking, a discectomy may be performed as either a minimally invasive outpatient procedure or a more conventional open spine surgery.  While both techniques seek to accomplish nerve decompression, the procedures and associated recovery periods are starkly different:

• Minimally invasive – during an outpatient percutaneous endoscopic discectomy, the orthopedic surgeons insert an endoscope and surgical instruments through a very small incision.  The piece of disc is carefully removed until the affected nerve is sufficiently decompressed.  Recovery and rehabilitation are minimal after one of these procedures because muscle tissue is pushed aside rather than cut and there is very little healing required. 
• Open spine discectomy – completed in a hospital, an open spine discectomy requires a large incision for the spinal surgeon to have access to the degenerated disc. To decompress the nerve, the disc is removed – often entirely – and the affected vertebrae are fused together with a bone graft and the insertion of hardware.  This major surgery is irreversible, guarantees diminished flexibility, and can take several months to fully recover from.

At Laser Spine Institute, our talented team of orthopedists specializes in the revolutionary field of endoscopic surgery.  To learn if you are a candidate for one of our safe and effective procedures, and to request a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact Laser Spine Institute today.