Discectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat a herniated disc where all or part of the damaged disc is removed. Although most patients with a herniated disc respond well to non-surgical treatments, some patients do need surgery. In general, surgery should be considered after several months of unsuccessful non-surgical treatment.
If you or a loved one are struggling with treatment-resistant pain caused by a herniated disc, trust our experts at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Neurosurgery to provide you with high-quality care and access to the latest surgical advancements. With some of the best patient outcomes in the state of Georgia, our team is prepared to innovate a treatment plan that best suits your needs.
What is a discectomy?
A discectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a portion or all of a damaged disc from your spine. The discs serve as shock absorbers between the vertebrae in your spine, but under repeated pressure they can become torn or ruptured, resulting in a painful herniated disc. To relieve symptoms of a herniated disc, surgeons can perform a discectomy.
During a discectomy, the portion of the disc that is compressing the nerve and causing your pain is removed. In some cases, the entire disc must be removed to ensure that the pressure is relieved from your nerve. When a whole disc is removed, your surgeon will likely need to fill the space with bone. The replacement bone is typically sourced from a donor or your pelvis, and after insertion, your vertebrae will be fused back together.
Who should get a discectomy?
Typically, a discectomy is one of the final courses of treatment considered for a herniated disc. Those who would benefit most from a discectomy are patients with a herniated disc that has not improved with non-surgical treatments. Some of the common factors in candidates for a discectomy may include:
- Shooting pain (sciatica) in the legs or buttocks.
- Numbness in the arms or legs that make it difficult to perform daily activities.
- Lack of response to other treatment methods such as pain medications, physical therapy and injections.
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, lack of sensation in the genital area.
Consult with a doctor to determine if a surgical response is necessary for your case of herniated disc.
Who performs a discectomy?
Discectomies are usually performed by neurosurgeons or orthopedic surgeons due to the fragile nature of the procedure. The human spine is a complex structure that requires extra attentiveness in surgery to avoid potential neurological damage. A surgeon performing a discectomy to relieve nerve pressure pain must have expert knowledge of the nervous system and its surrounding bone and tissues.
While surgeries in and around the spine can be intimidating to consider, our NGPG Neurosurgeons are specialty and subspecialty trained, providing some of the highest rates of success for patients in Georgia. Our team specializes in advanced and minimally invasive surgical procedures like discectomy to treat pain caused by a slipped or ruptured disc.
What happens during a discectomy?
Prior to your surgery, your provider will likely request imaging tests to map out the area affected by your herniated disc. On surgery day, you can expect a simple process for your procedure, usually lasting around 2 to 3 hours total. While the exact steps and measures taken can vary depending on your case, the steps of a discectomy commonly include:
- Anesthesia: You will likely receive general anesthesia for your discectomy, and be asleep for the entirety of the procedure.
- Incision: After you are asleep, your surgeon will create a small incision above the damaged disc. Muscles and sometimes bone are moved to provide a window of access.
- Removal: Once your disc is accessible, your surgeon will remove the portion of it (in some cases the entire thing) that is compressing your spinal nerve.
- Closing: After the necessary portion of the disc is removed and the compression on your nerve is relieved, your surgeon will reattach your muscle and skin back together with stitches, staples or glue.
After your surgery is complete and your anesthetic has worn off, your surgeon may require you to stay in the hospital to monitor your condition and manage your recovery pain levels.
After your 1 to 2-day hospital stay, you will receive instructions on how to care for your surgical site, what side effects to monitor for and permitted levels of activity. In some cases, your provider may recommend physical therapy to help you through the healing process.
At NGPG Neurosurgery, we offer minimally invasive microdiscectomy for qualifying patients with treatment resistant disc herniation. This surgical treatment option is an outpatient procedure, meaning you get to go home following the procedure. The surgery itself is like a regular discectomy, but the incision is less than an inch and smaller instruments are used to remove pieces of disc. This technique results in smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, less pain after surgery and a faster recovery. Many cases of herniated disc can be treated with the advanced, minimally invasive surgical options that our team of board-certified neurosurgeons offer to patients across Georgia.
What are the surgical options for treating a herniated disc?
Some surgical options used to treat herniated disc are:
- Endoscopic discectomy: This minimally invasive spine surgery involves using a small tube, camera and tools to access the disc, avoiding the need for large incisions.
- Anterior discectomy: This procedure is reserved for herniated discs that occur in the neck and involves access to the disc through the front of the neck rather than the back.
- Laminectomy: This surgery involves the removal of lamina, the tissue that lines the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
- Spinal fusion: When an entire disc must be removed during a discectomy, the resulting space must be filled to avoid spinal instability. A spinal fusion involves connecting grafted bone and hardware to hold the vertebrae in place while they fuse to the new addition.
Our surgeons at NGPG Neurosurgery strive to perform the most effective and least invasive surgical techniques that work best for your specific needs. Schedule an appointment with our care team to discuss your options for surgery and what your recovery time will look like.
Choose NGPG for Disc Surgery
When neurological conditions do not respond to non-surgical treatment, surgery may be the best route to condition relief or management. Patients who choose NGPG receive excellent care for certified specialists and have access to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s state-of-the-art surgical facilities. At NGPG Neurosurgery, our experts use safe, effective, and proven surgical techniques, helping patients recover faster, spending less time in hospitals and more time at home.
If you or a loved one are suffering from pain caused by treatment resistant disc herniation, you can rely on our team at NGPG Neurosurgery to provide high-quality and minimally invasive surgical treatment options to get you back to pain-free living faster.