Endoscopic Discectomy

In our spines, between each vertebral bony segment there is an intervertebral disc made of cartilage. These discs work to cushion the joints in your spine and allow for movement, such as twisting and bending. These discs also help absorb axial shock and pressure, such as the shock that goes down your spine when you jump or stand for a long time. If the contents of the intervertebral discs start to push outwards towards the spinal canal, this is known as a herniated disc and can cause severe radiating pain that goes down a patient’s back and into their legs. The surgical removal of the herniated section of a protruding disc is known as a discectomy, and this procedure avoids the large incisions and complications of a traditional major spinal surgery. A discectomy can be performed in a traditional open surgical technique, or endoscopically in order to minimize complications after the procedure. A discectomy is a relatively invasive treatment option for patients with persistent and disabling radiculopathy due to disc herniation. An open discectomy is performed in a surgical operating room, and the procedure involves a concurrent laminectomy and disc removal, with a lumbar fusion being possible to do at the same time.

A microdiscectomy involves a small incision followed by a hemilaminectomy and removal of the disc fragment that is infiltrating the spinal canal and causing the patient radiating pain.

Minimally invasive discectomies can be performed endoscopically, percutaneously (through the skin), or via laser technology. This allows for faster recovery for the patients and less chances of infection and other post-surgical complications. The patient can typically go home the same day if they are doing well and are hemodynamically stable.