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An intervertebral disc in your spine may be surgically removed, either in whole or in part, during a Discectomy (also spelt "Diskectomy"). The spherical, flat cushions positioned in between your spine's vertebrae (bones), serving as shock absorbers, are called intervertebral discs. Every disc has an annulus, a flexible outer ring, around its soft, gel-like nucleus. The pressure on intervertebral discs is continuous. A disc may rupture, letting part of the gel material inside the nucleus escape. This is termed a herniated disc, which is the primary cause of Discectomy cases. It is also referred to as a bulging, slipping, or ruptured disc.
Although they can also affect your neck (cervical spine), herniated discs most usually affect the lumbar spine in the lower back. A herniated disc in the thoracic spine, or middle back, is uncommon. Compared to Cervical Discectomies, Lumbar Discectomies are more frequent.
A herniated disc can cause back pain and other symptoms that can lower your quality of life. If no other treatment works, a Discectomy can be the next step.
A Discectomy is performed to release the pressure that a prolapsed, slid, ruptured, or bulging disc (also known as a herniated disc) puts on a spinal nerve. When some of the disc's softer material pushes out through a fissure in the outer lining, the result is a herniated disc.
A medical professional may suggest a Discectomy if:
Nerve weakness makes it difficult to walk or stand.
After six to twelve weeks, conservative treatment such as physical therapy or steroid injections fails to alleviate symptoms.
When pain spreads to the arms, legs, chest, or buttocks and becomes unbearable.
Discectomies can be of several varieties, depending on the location and surgical technique used:
Open or Conventional Discectomy (SD): This involves the surgeon making a wide skin incision (cut) and repositioning your back muscles to allow direct visualisation of the surgical site for disc manipulation.
Minimally Invasive Discectomy: A tiny skin incision is made during a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) Discectomy and the surgeon uses a succession of progressively bigger tubes—known as dilators—to burrow into your muscles. The surgeon can view and work in a smaller area with the use of special tools, such as an endoscope. Micro-endoscopic Discectomy (MED) and full endoscopic Discectomy (FE) are two variations of the same procedure.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): This procedure treats the cervical spine in your neck. The anterior (front) side of your neck is where the surgeon will approach the injured disc. After the disc is removed (Diskectomy), a spinal fusion is performed. In a fusion, the disc's original location is replaced with implants or bone grafts. Your neck gains strength and stability from this.
Before surgery, you'll probably need to fast for a specific period of time. You might also need to change the amount of blood-thinning medicine you take prior to surgery. You will get precise instructions from your healthcare practitioner.
During a Discectomy, surgeons often use general anaesthesia, so you are not conscious during the process. Only the disc fragment pinching the nerve is removed. However, to reach the herniated disc, a small portion of the spinal bone and ligament may also need to be removed. If the entire disc needs to be removed, your surgeon may use a synthetic bone substitute, a piece of bone from your own pelvis, or a donor's bone to fill the gap. After that, metal hardware is used to fuse the adjacent vertebrae together.
Following surgery, you are sent to a recovery room, where a member of the medical staff keeps an eye out for any aftereffects of the anaesthesia and procedure. On the day after surgery, you could be allowed to return home. However, a brief hospital stay may be necessary, especially for people with significant medical issues.
You might be able to go back to work in two to six weeks, depending on how much lifting, walking, and sitting your job requires. You may need to wait six to eight weeks before going back to work if your profession involves heavy lifting or operating machines.
A Discectomy can be a significant procedure. However, when comparing the number of days you spend in the hospital recovering from an open Discectomy, there are a few minimally invasive surgical techniques that are less serious. To ensure that your spine recovers properly after any kind of Discectomy, you must closely adhere to your recovery instructions because of the fragility of your spine and spinal cord.
Following a Discectomy, recovery might take one to four weeks, depending on:
The degree of the disc herniation and your preoperative symptoms
Your overall well-being
How strictly do you adhere to your post-surgery instructions?
The area where the incision was made may be painful for a few days. Additionally, the discomfort you experienced before surgery may not go away immediately; it will take some time.
A Discectomy is regarded as safe in general. Discectomy does, however, include a risk of consequences, just like other operations. Possible issues consist of:
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