Discectomy is the surgical removal of all or a part of a spinal disc that is irritating the nearby nerves or soft tissues causing pain. It is best for patients with herniated discs causing referred pain traveling down the arms and legs. On the other hand, it is not as effective for patients with localized pain in the back or neck
Discectomy is the surgical removal of all or a part of a spinal disc that is irritating the nearby nerves or soft tissues causing pain. It is best for patients with herniated discs causing referred pain traveling down the arms and legs. On the other hand, it is not as effective for patients with localized pain in the back or neck.
Since discectomy is a surgical treatment, most doctors only suggest if the patient hasn’t received adequate relief even after maximum medical management. Lumbar discectomy is performed in patients with lumbar disc herniation, while cervical discectomy and fusion is the most preferred treatment for cervical disc issues.
Max Health is one of the largest surgery care providers in India, with orthopedic centers established in almost all major cities in India. It also has a team of expert orthopedic surgeons on panel to help provide advanced orthopedic care to all patients.
Some other services provided by Max Health include complete insurance and hospital documentation support, easy payment plans like no-cost EMI, etc. It also provides cab facility to the patient for pick up and drop off from the hospital on the day of surgery and complimentary meals during hospitalization.
If you need back discectomy surgery for spinal pain, you should consult us immediately for expert orthopedic surgery in India.
A discectomy is generally advised to a patient if they have a spinal disc deformity like herniated disc, slip disc, disc prolapse, etc., pressurizing the nerves. Some other health conditions that may need discectomy surgery are:
Depending on the complexity of the surgery and the patient’s health condition, the patient should make the following preparations before the surgery:
Before making a decision regarding spine surgery, the patient should undergo a thorough diagnostic checkup via diagnostic tests like blood tests, physical examination, and diagnostic tests like – MRI scan, CT scan, X-rays, etc. The results of these diagnostic tests will help determine the type of surgery and anesthesia best for the patient, overall recovery period, etc.
Once the patient has passed the vital signs checkup, the anesthesia is administered. After the anesthesia has taken effect, the patient’s back is scrubbed and cleaned. Then, based on the type of surgery to be performed, the incision is made and surgery is performed. A part of the vertebral bone called lamina is removed (laminectomy or laminotomy). Finally, the incision is closed and dressed.
Discectomy surgery is generally performed under general anesthesia, but minimally invasive procedures can be performed under spinal anesthesia. Ideally, only a small part of the disc compressing the nerves is removed, in addition to the required amount of spinal bone and ligaments. In case, the whole disc is to be taken out, the spinal column is either fused or a disc implant is inserted to prevent spinal instability.
Once the surgery is done, the patient is moved to a recovery room for observation. Most patients are hospitalized overnight to ensure there are no complications, but sometimes patients are discharged on the same day. Patients can return to work within 2-6 weeks of the surgery, depending on the type of work, the complexity of the surgery, physiotherapy, etc.
While discectomy is generally very effective in reducing spinal pain, it is not a permanent treatment, especially if the patient doesn’t follow proper postoperative care and instructions. Recovery tips a patient should follow to attain complete recovery without complications and to prevent recurrence are:
Generally, a spine specialist – an orthopedic or neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery- performs discectomy surgery.
The exact recovery time varies from patient to patient, but generally, patients start experiencing relief within a week, but complete pain relief can take up to 6 weeks.
You should consult a doctor for back treatment or surgery if you have severe pain, numbness, or weakness in the back and legs, for which conservative treatments are not effective.
You should get a thorough diagnosis, along with a second or third opinion before making up your mind regarding spine surgery.
Although minimally invasive discectomy surgery is very safe, in certain cases, there may be complications after the surgery, if the patient and doctor do not follow proper postoperative care after the surgery. Common risks of discectomy surgery are:
