Sciatica – Lumbar Microdiscectomy

Transcript

A lumbar microdiscectomy is a procedure that’s done for a disc herniation in the lumbar spine that is putting pressure on a nerve and causing sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy. It’s usually done through a small incision done under a microscope, where a small opening of the bony roof of the canal is made, the nerve is gently retracted, and the herniated portion of the disc is gently removed, taking away the pressure that it’s putting on the nerve. It usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour, and in most patients can be done in an outpatient setting where you come in the morning, have the procedure done and leave two or three hours later and recover at home.