Back Surgery

The most common back surgery performed in America is the lumbar discectomy. There are about 400,000 such surgeries done here every year. The surgery involves detaching the herniated disc from the nerves. The modern spine surgery involving this process is known as lumbar microdiscectomy. In this surgery, an operating microscope is used in order to see the nerve structures better. This makes it possible for the surgeon to create a small incision of about 1.5 inches and stretch the back muscles only on the side of disc herniation. This improved version of back surgery helps in mitigating the radicular pain that arises from the leg. Besides, the smaller incision, minimal stretches of muscles and less disruption of ligaments and bones make way for speedier recovery.

Disc herniation is a condition when the internal core of disc matter protudes from the walls of the disc space, squeezing the lumbar nerve roots. When this happens, the patient experiences a wide range of symptoms, the most common one being sciatica. This is an acute pain that radiates from the lower back around the hip joint and travels to the leg and foot. About 80 percent of patients with this condition can be treated by non-surgical methods. But the remaining 20 percent need back surgery.

For years, medical experts have been busy finding the "perfect" way to remove the inner core of the disc without much pain. An enzyme was also introduced earlier that could do this task chemically. But, there are many complications with this method, along with scary side effects like paralysis and even death. There was a problem in controlling the action of the enzyme. There has been continuous research related to altering techniques for back surgery. What back surgeon wants is a method that restores the disc core into the disc space with minimal invasion of the spine. Research has brought to light the fact that accurate dosage and treatment of discs with chymopapain can restore the core to the normal disc space.

There was yet another attractive way to access the disc in thespine. It was by placing a needle while watching through an X-ray. Suction devices as well as mechanical cutting methods were developed that could "suck up" the inner disc core. This back surgery procedure was known as percutaneous automated discectomy. With the advancement of technology, a laser fiber was introduced into the disc through the needle, which vaporized the core. This back surgery procedure was known as percutaneous laser discectomy. These procedures did not get rid of disc herniation, but reduced the intradiscal pressure, which, in turn, would alleviate the pressure on nerves, reducing the pain. The success of these procedures accounted for about 75 percent of cases.

Back surgery remains a challenge to medical experts. Research has continued in this regard. Scientists are experimenting with procedures that not only reduce the pressure on nerves, but also remove the inner disc core successfully.