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herniated disc

Microdiscectomy

microdiscectomy A microdiscectomy is also sometimes called a microendoscopic discectomy. This is a less invasive version of open discectomy surgery and is used in the majority of patients receiving partial disc removal operations. Obviously, a minimally invasive version is always preferred to a full open technique, since it is less risky, less damaging to healthy tissue and easier to recover from.

What is a Microdiscectomy?

This type of surgery encompasses many procedural variations, but all seek to remove a portion of a bulging disc thought to be compressing a spinal nerve root. There are countless varieties of this operation, but all demonstrate minimally invasive surgical techniques using the latest high tech equipment to reduce trauma to the patient. Microendoscopic procedures are not only a better choice since they eliminate the agony and injury associated with full open herniated disc surgery, but also demonstrate better curative results than their full open counterparts. During the procedure, the surgeon removes the bulging section of the intervertebral disc, taking pressure off the affected nerve and allowing the disc to return to a more typical shape and size.

Microdiscectomy Indications

Minimally invasive partial disc removal procedures are most often used to treat herniated discs diagnosed as causing particular nerve compression syndromes. This is a very common diagnosis, but actually occurs quite infrequently. In order for a disc to actually compress a nerve, it would literally have to cover the entire neuroforaminal opening under substantial pressure. This seldom occurs and even if the disc touches the nerve tissue, it rarely has any noticeable effects. This might help to explain the relatively poor curative results of discectomy techniques and back surgery in general. Misdiagnosis is a HUGE problem within the back pain industry, with many scapegoat conditions taking the blame for pain, while the most common cause, ischemia, is rarely correctly diagnosed.

Microdiscectomy Advice

I definitely recommend a microendoscopic version of the discectomy over any full open operation. However, I generally think that discectomy surgeries in general are a poor treatment option and should be avoided like the plague. Over 95% of these procedures are unnecessary and contraindicated, yet are still performed on countless of patients every year. It should be a crime… Even with successful operations, there is a great risk of re-herniation or pain moving to a new location.

There are far better non-surgical options which offer better curative results, such as spinal decompression therapy. Of course, that is assuming that the diagnosis of an actual pinched nerve event is correct, which it usually is not…

I almost always recommend knowledge therapy as a first line defense against any back pain syndrome, since it is by far the most effective and demonstrates the lowest cost (free or almost free) and the lowest risk (none)…

Microdiscectomy to Herniated Disc Home
3/31/09 Revised 12/7/09


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