Microdiskectomy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Herniated nucleus pulposis

Skeletal spine

Spine supporting structures

Microdiskectomy

Alternative Names:

Spinal Microdiskectomy; Microdecompression

Definition:

Spinal microdiskectomy is the minimally invasive surgical removal of disk fragments from a herniated disk, usually in the lower back (lumbar area). Unlike lumbar spine surgery that requires an incision 2 to 5 inches long, microdiskectomy is performed through a very small incision (about 1 to 1 ½ inches).

Description:

Microdiskectomy is conducted in a hospital or outpatient surgical center while the patient is under local anesthesia (awake but pain-free). A special high-powered microscope magnifies the affected disk(s) and nerves, and guides the doctor during surgery.

A tiny incision is made on the patient’s back, and the surgeon moves the back muscles away from the spine. After identifying and moving the nerve root, the surgeon removes the injured disk tissue and fragments. The back muscles are then moved back into their normal position, and the wound is closed with stitches or staples.

Indications:

It’s important to note that patients with low back pain are usually treated conservatively before surgery is considered. Bedrest, traction, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and exercise are often prescribed.

Spinal microdiskectomy is done to relieve nerve pain and pressure. It may be performed in patients with the following conditions:

Herniated lumbar disk
Leg pain or weakness (sciatica) caused by a herniated disk
Cauda equina syndrome

References:

Beers, MH. eds. Low Back Pain. In: Merck Manual of Medical Information, 3rd Home ed. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster; 2003: 515-521.

Koebbe, Christopher J., M.D., et al. “Lumbar Microdiscectomy: A Historical Perspective and Current Technical Considerations.” Neurosurg Focus 13 (2): Article 3, 2002.

Review Date: 3/4/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, M.D., Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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