If you have been experiencing severe back pain, you might have heard about microdiscectomy as a possible treatment option. Microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure used to relieve pain caused by a herniated or ruptured disc in the spine. The procedure involves removing a small portion of the disc that is pressing on a nerve root, thereby reducing the pain and other symptoms associated with the condition. One question many patients have is whether microdiscectomy is keyhole surgery. This article explores what keyhole surgery is, how microdiscectomy is performed, and whether it can be considered a form of keyhole surgery.
What Is Microdiscectomy Surgery?
Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat herniated discs. Herniated discs occur when the soft tissue between the vertebrae in the spine protrudes outward and compresses the nerves. This can cause severe pain, numbness, and weakness in the back, legs, and feet.
During a traditional microdiscectomy, a small incision is made in the skin over the affected area. The surgeon then uses an operating microscope or operating glasses called loupes to view the irritated nerve and utilizes small surgical instruments to remove the portion of the herniated disc that is compressing the nerves.
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Is a Microdiscectomy Keyhole Surgery?
The term "keyhole surgery" is often used to describe all minimally invasive surgical procedures. Keyhole surgery is commonly used for a variety of procedures, including gallbladder removal, hernia repair, joint replacement, and spine surgery. In each of these cases, the surgeon makes a small incision in the skin, inserts a small camera to visualize the area being operated on, and uses specialized instruments to perform the surgery. The advantage of keyhole surgery is that it is less invasive than traditional open surgery, such as a discectomy, which involves making a large incision in the skin.
Microdiscectomy is often referred to as keyhole surgery because it also involves making a small incision in the skin over the affected area. However, it is important to note that not all minimally invasive surgeries are keyhole surgeries. Keyhole surgery involves using a thin tube with a camera and instruments to perform the surgery through a tiny hole in the skin.
One type of microdiscectomy that is a form of keyhole surgery is called an endoscopic microdiscectomy, during which a tiny camera called an endoscope is inserted through the incision, allowing the surgeon to see inside the body without having to make a large incision. The surgeon then uses small surgical instruments to remove the portion of the herniated disc that is compressing the nerves.
So while microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgery, it is not always a true keyhole surgery.
Advantages of Microdiscectomy Surgery
- Faster recovery time – Since microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgery, the recovery time is generally faster than with open surgery. Most patients are able to return to their normal activities within a few weeks.
- Less scarring – Because only a small incision is made in the skin, there is less scarring with microdiscectomy than with open surgery.
- Less pain – Microdiscectomy is less painful than open surgery, which can require a longer hospital stay and more pain medication.
- Lower risk of complications – Because microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgery, the risk of complications is generally lower than with open surgery.
Although microdiscectomy surgery is generally a very successful procedure, a hole is left in the outer wall of the disc. Patients with a large hole in the outer ring of the disc are more than twice as likely to reherniate after 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 microdiscectomy. In a large-scale study, 95 percent of Barricaid patients did not undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in a 2-year study timeframe. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and does not require any additional incisions or time in the hospital.
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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