The impact of movements made throughout the day often affect the lower back. For this reason, it is not unusual for spinal discs in the lower back area to become herniated. If you have a herniated disc, your doctor may recommend lumbar discectomy surgery. This article explains what you need to know about this particular type of spine surgery.
Lumbar Discectomy Surgery
A lumbar discectomy refers to the removal of all or part of a spinal disc in the lower back area. It can be performed with minimally invasive techniques or traditional methods—referred to as "open" surgery. The less invasive option is referred to as a microdiscectomy. During a lumbar discectomy, the following steps are typically taken:
• The affected area is accessed with either a larger incision or smaller incisions if minimally invasive techniques are used
• Disc material that is irritating a nearby nerve is removed
• The spinal disc itself is preserved as much as possible
Combining a Lumbar Discectomy with Fusion Surgery
In some situations, it may be necessary to remove the entire spinal disc. If this is the case, spinal fusion surgery is often required to maintain spinal stability. If these two procedures are performed together, it may take longer to heal and recover. Even so, you will ultimately benefit from a more stable spine and a noticeable decrease in discomfort.
Reasons for a Lumbar Discectomy
The sciatic nerve starts at the base of the lower spine, and it is often irritated to some extent by herniated lumbar spinal discs. The sciatic nerve or any other nerves in your lower back area may also become irritated due to:
• Stress from your daily motions over the years
• Age-related wear—referred to as disc degeneration
• Damage caused by sudden trauma, such as an automobile accident or a hard fall
• Disc-related damaged caused by contact sports or other athletic activities
• Occupation-related damage to a lumbar spinal disc
• Related conditions such as arthritis
Treatment before Surgery
It is rare for a doctor to recommend a lumbar discectomy right away. Many patients notice improvements with nonsurgical remedies, such as physical therapy, therapeutic injections, and the use of anti-inflammatory medication. If these initial efforts fail to produce meaningful results after several months, your doctor may recommend lumbar discectomy surgery.
Recovering from a Lumbar Discectomy
It can take approximately 4–6 weeks to recover if you have an open procedure or one that requires accompanying fusion surgery. Recovery, regardless of the way the lumbar discectomy is performed, typically involves:
• Physical therapy
• Post-surgery medication
• Adjustments to diet and exercise habits
• Posture improvements
• A gradual increase in activity level, including activities you will need to do to return to work
Although discectomy surgery is generally a very successful procedure, patients with a larger hole in the outer ring of the disc have a significantly higher risk of reherniation following surgery. Often, the surgeon will not know the size of the hole until he or she begins surgery. A new treatment, Barricaid, which is a bone-anchored device proven to reduce reherniations, was specifically designed to close the large hole often left in the spinal disc after discectomy. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and does not require any additional incisions or time in the hospital. In a large-scale study, 95 percent of Barricaid patients did not undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in the 2-year study timeframe.
If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment or how to get access to Barricaid, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
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