Overview of Procedure
Discectomy (or diskectomy) is the surgical removal of a protruding or herniated disc that presses on the spinal canal, causing pain on the nerve roots. An intervertebral disc is the flexible plate that connects two adjacent vertebrae in the spine. Discs act as shock absorbers between other vertebrae, protecting the brain and spine from movement of the human body.
The patient is put on general or local anaesthesia depending on the depth of the procedure. An incision is made to reach the vertebral canal so that the dura and the bundle of nerves called the “cauda equina” (horse’s tail) can be moved aside, exposing the disc. Necessary pieces are removed according to the state of the disc once it is exposed. If a part of the disc is bulging outside of the vertebrae and pressing on the nerve canal, then the disc is simply removed. If the disc is bulging extensively or has become partially fragmented or displaced, then the damaged part of the disc is removed.
The Right Candidates
If you have partially damaged discs that are not herniated, it is not always recommended to rush ahead with surgery. If you are young, then it is sometimes better to wait and let the disc heal itself. On the other hand, elderly folks should not wait to be treated surgically due to the slower healing time of the bones and body in general. Such pressure on the spine could cause further complications, resulting in a more complex surgery. A discectomy is mainly used to treat herniated discs. It is now considered a minimally invasive surgery. The operation is often performed under the guidance of endoscopic images, allowing for better visualization, smaller incisions and a shorter recovery period.
Risks and Side Effects
Reaction to anaesthesia is always a risk to be considered, however this risk is generally very small. Complications with the heart and/or lungs are to be considered as well.
The most common risk accompanied with any and all surgeries is infection, but this happens to 1-2% of patients who undergo disc removal surgery.
Surgery
Before surgery, you will be required to send your medical reports, X-Rays and MRI's if you have them. Otherwise, you will be required to have these done once you arrive to your medical tourism destination.
Minimally invasive disc removal also known as a microdiscectomy is when a microscope is used to examine the damaged or herniated disc, allowing the surgeon to make smaller incisions, preserving the nearby tissue. Arthroscopic microdiscectomy is a video-assisted procedure that is relatively new, but has shown excellent results as far as a shorter recovery time and minimal use of narcotics. Many of our hospitals perform discectomy under the guidance of endoscopic or arthroscopic images. This allows for maximum visualization.
Recovery
After disc removal surgery, the patient will remain in the hospital for at least 2-3 three days. The best position for the patient to be in throughout his or her stay will be decided by the doctor. Usually, the patient must remain in a lying down position for several days, not counting changing position to avoid bedsores.
The patient is usually discharged on the fourth day. The doctor will assign exercises and a description of how the patient should go about his/her daily activities.
Results
The goal of disc removal surgery is to relieve pain and pressure on the spinal cord that has persisted for at least 6 weeks after failed attempts at alternative spine treatments.
As a person ages, their vertebral discs degenerate and dry out, often tearing and resulting in a bulge that compresses on the nerves in the spine. This bulge is called a “prolapsed or “herniated” disk (disc).
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