Microdecompression

Microdecompression, or microdiscectomy, is a minimally invasive procedure where a small amount of herniated disc material or bone is surgically removed from the spinal column to alleviate nerve compression. Rather than removing an entire intervertebral disc and installing hardware and bone grafts, this technique requires only a small incision and minimal recovery. This procedure is particularly effective in the lumbar spine as a way of alleviating painful sciatica and other types of radiculopathy. Microdecompression is also favored because it requires little recovery and the procedure is completed quickly – often in a spa-like, outpatient clinic.

Herniated Discs

One of the leading causes of lower back pain is the presence of a herniated intervertebral disc. When a patient is suffering from this condition, the gel-like nucleus material of one of the discs that cushions the vertebrae has extruded into the spinal column through an annular tear in the wall of the disc. This condition isn’t necessarily symptomatic on its own, but when the herniated disc material comes into contact with a nerve root or the spinal cord, lower back pain and other symptoms, including sciatica, can develop. The basic premise of a microdecompression surgery is that, rather than removing the entire degenerated disc (as in a spinal fusion procedure), the spinal surgeon delicately removes only the source of the pain.

Benefits and Where to Get Treatment

Microdecompression has a number of appealing benefits associated with it, including:

• The procedure is completed quickly, allowing the patient to return home the same day
• Incision is kept to a minimum so recovery is quicker than open spine surgery
• Microdecompression also leads to less scar tissue buildup
• There is a much smaller risk for post-operative complications than with other spine procedures
• The procedure is extremely effective
• No hardware or bone grafts are installed so the patient doesn’t need to worry about rejection
• Rehabilitation is minimal

To learn more about microdecompression surgery and to schedule a complimentary review of your MRI or CT scan to discern whether you may be a candidate for this state-of-the-art procedure, contact Laser Spine Institute.