Lumbar Microdiscectomy
Herniated or ruptured discs can be incredibly painful and complicate a lot of back issues. These disks are meant to cushion the vertebrae they sit between, so when they are compromised, they can’t effectively provide that cushioning and may compress sensitive nerves in the process.
One of the treatment options for fixing a herniated lumbar disc in the lower back is a microdiscectomy. During both a regular discectomy and a microdiscectomy the herniated disc is removed. The main difference is the size of the incision and the surgical tools that are used.
A much smaller incision can be used to perform a microdiscectomy, which results in less surgical trauma and accelerated recovery. The procedure is performed with arthroscopic or endoscopic tools, including a thin tube camera for visualizing the herniated disc during surgery.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
ACDF is a surgical option for the removal of a herniated cervical disc. The cervical vertebrae are in the neck, which is why a slightly different approach is taken with herniated cervical discs as opposed to herniated lumbar discs.
During the procedure, small incisions are made in the throat, through which the herniated disc is removed. A bone graft is then used to fuse the vertebrae above and below the herniated disc together.