Patient Education

Herniated discs are often referred to as "slipped discs". This term derived from the action of the nucleus tissue when it is forced from the center of the disc. The disc itself does not slip. However, the nucleus tissues located in the center of the disc can be placed under so much pressure that it can cause the annulus to herniated or rupture against one or more of the spinal nerves which can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the low back. leg or foot.

Other names used for herniated discs are "prolapsed", "bulging", "ruptured".

Depending upon the results of the physical examination and the severity of your condition, your doctor may offer you two forms of treatment. The first common treatment is the aforementioned "Conservative Therapy," bed rest, pain medication, and physiotherapy. If conservative therapy does not bring enough pain relief, surgical procedures may be considered.

Until a few years ago, the only surgical treatment for herniated lumbar discs was the open removal of a part of the herniated disc, an often effective but major operation that requires general anesthesia, the dissection of muscle, removal of bone, and at times, bone fusion.

In recent years, techniques employing the use of endoscopy have been incorporated into lumbar spine surgery making minimally invasive spine surgery possible while overcoming disadvantages of traditional techniques. Non-traumatic Discectomy can provide an effective way to decompress and repair damages discs without open surgery.

An Endoscope provides clear visualization and magnification of deep structures. First used in knee surgery, endoscopy, (arthroscopy,) with its advanced miniaturization and video imaging technology has made it possible for a less invasive and less traumatic discectomy procedure for some disc patients.

Non-traumatic Discectomy is an outpatient surgical procedure to remove herniated disc material. Using local anesthesia with the help of x-ray fluoroscopy and magnified video for guidance, a small specially designed endoscopic probe is inserted through the skin of the back, between the vertebrae and into the herniated disc space. Tiny surgical attachments are the sent down the hollow center of the probe to remove a portion of the offending disc. The microsurgical attachments can also sometimes be used to push the bulging disc back into place and be used for the removal of disc fragments and small bony spurs.

The procedure takes about an hour, on average. X-ray exposure is minimal. You normally will feel little, if any pain or discomfort. There are no stitches. Upon completion, the probe is removed and a small Band-Aid is placed over the incision. The amount of nucleus tissue removed varies but the supporting structure of the disc is not affected by the surgery. The access route to the disc consists of only the probe's small puncture site, usually the size of a freckle, in comparison to large incisions required for open surgery.

Non-traumatic Discectomy is different from open lumbar disc surgery because there is no traumatic back muscle dissection, no bone removal, or large skin incision. The risk of complications from scarring, blood loss, infection, and anesthesia that may occur with conventional surgery are drastically reduced or eliminated with this procedure. Non-traumatic Discectomy was invented to be an effective treatment for herniated discs while avoiding these risks.

Non-traumatic Discectomy is specifically designed for patients with disc problems accompanied by the following:

The primary advantage of this outpatient procedure is that it is effective and very low risk since there is no interferences with the muscles, bones, joints or manipulation of the nerves in your lower back area.

Since the insertion of the probe through the muscle is the only wound, there is no scarring in or around the nerves.