Discectomy is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure to remove herniated disc material in the lumbar (lower back) that may be pressing on a nerve root or the patient’s spinal cord.
A discectomy is useful for treating pain that radiates through the patient’s arms and legs. The surgery is performed to decrease pain and allow patients to regain normal movement and function, and he patient is often able to leave the same day following the procedure.
You and your doctor may consider discectomy surgery if:
- You have severe leg pain, numbness, or weakness that prohibits daily activities.
- Your symptoms do not improve after at least 6 weeks of nonsurgical treatment.
- Results of your last physical exam show weakness, loss of motion, or abnormal feeling.
Surgeons may use a special microscope to view the damaged area, allowing them to make a smaller incision that causes less damage to the surrounding tissue, which means quicker recovery time.
Discectomies are usually an ambulatory surgery, meaning they do not typically require hospitalization beyond the actual procedure. The patient is asleep or numb during the surgery, but the patient can often leave to return home the same day.
