When it comes to herniated disc surgery or surgeries related to the spine, it is a major concern for both the patient and their family because of worries about the treatment outcomes, fear that the surgery might be dangerous, and concerns about the risk of paralysis after surgery.
Currently, spinal surgery technology has advanced from the past in terms of the size of the surgical wound, safety standards, and reducing the hospital recovery time. With endoscopic surgery technology, surgeons can perform safer operations with smaller incisions and less muscle dissection, allowing patients to walk sooner.
Getting to Know the Technology for Treating “Herniated Disc Compressing Nerves”
There are several methods for disc removal surgery. The traditional method is open surgery with an incision in the middle of the back about 6-10 centimeters long, depending on the patient’s body fat and thickness of the back fat layer. After making the incision, the muscles around the spine at the location of the problematic herniated disc are dissected away from the spine. Then, muscle retractors are used to hold the muscles apart, and an opening is made in the spine at the required location to access the spinal canal. Once the nerve is found, instruments are used to push the nerve to the center to expose the part of the herniated or ruptured disc pressing on the nerve. The compressing part is then removed with forceps, and the wound is sutured closed. This method requires the patient to stay in the hospital for about 5-7 days and a recovery period of about 4-6 weeks. Later, this developed into herniated disc surgery using a Microscope.
Herniated Disc Surgery Using a Microscope
Microscope surgery uses a surgical microscope to magnify the area being operated on, making the surgical wound smaller compared to open surgery. However, this method still requires an incision of about 3 centimeters to dissect some muscle. Later, it was further developed into minimally invasive surgery using a Microscope combined with a Tubular Retractor for spinal surgery to reduce the incision size even more, called Microendoscope surgery. The incision size is reduced to about 2 centimeters, and muscle dissection is also minimized.
Herniated Disc Surgery Using an Endoscope
The technology for treating herniated discs compressing nerves continues to develop, leading to endoscopic surgery, which is a further advancement for spinal surgery. This method involves inserting a small endoscope into the patient’s body, displaying images on a monitor so the surgeon can clearly see the patient’s organs. It reduces the incision size from the original to 8 millimeters to 1 centimeter. With clear and precise visualization of abnormalities, the surgeon can selectively remove only the problematic parts without cutting away healthy muscle.
Herniated Disc Surgery Using Nucleoplasty Technology
Currently, besides disc replacement surgery, there is a treatment technology called Nucleoplasty, which involves inserting a small needle into the problematic disc and releasing radiofrequency energy that generates heat at the needle tip. This heat dissolves the excess or protruding disc material to relieve nerve compression, eliminating back pain without surgery. The wound is only a small needle puncture. This treatment does not require general anesthesia, and patients can recover and return to their normal daily activities. This method is suitable for patients with mild herniated discs compressing nerves, without radiating pain down the leg, and who have not responded to medication or physical therapy. However, if symptoms are severe with radiating leg pain, surgery is usually necessary.
It can be said that technology for treating herniated discs compressing nerves continues to develop, which benefits patients. However, treatment for each patient depends on the severity of the condition and the patient’s current health. Doctors will diagnose and plan the most appropriate and safest treatment for each patient.
