Microdiscectomy for Lumbar Herniated Disc
Microdiscectomy is a surgical method performed using special instruments and a microscope. In the treatment of advanced lumbar disc herniation, the best treatment method applied worldwide is discectomy surgery performed with the microsurgical technique.
Advantages of the Microsurgical Technique in Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery;
- Since a smaller incision is made, the risk of infection in the surgical area is reduced.
- Because less muscle tissue is detached without being cut, postoperative low back pain is minimal.
- Since the tissues are seen in three dimensions and in the finest detail thanks to the microscope used during surgery, the risk of complications (bleeding, nerve injury, damage to the spinal cord) is very low.
In the microsurgical technique, after general or spinal anesthesia is administered, an approximately 1.5–2 cm incision is made in the skin, the back muscles are detached using special instruments without being cut from their attachment points, and the herniated area is reached. Thus, since there is no damage to the back muscles after surgery, the patient does not experience postoperative low back pain.
Since a microscope designed in accordance with microsurgery is used during the operation, the surgical field is seen 3–4 times larger, thus reducing the possibility of cutting or injuring the nerve. In microsurgery, since very little of the area over the spinal cord and the nerve is opened, the risk of postoperative adhesions around the spinal cord is very low.
Microdiscectomy surgery is completed by removing the herniated disc fragments compressing the nerve using specially manufactured instruments.
After the operation, the patient is helped to stand up after 3 hours and is discharged one day later.
Patients who work in light-duty jobs can return to work after 10 days, while those doing heavy work can start working after one month.
