Medical clearance will be done in advance. Your doctor will ask about medications you may be taking. Any blood thinners and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications should not be taken for two weeks before the surgery date. At midnight of the night before, you cannot have anything to eat or drink.

Microendoscopic discectomy is an outpatient procedure that is performed under general anesthesia. It usually takes 45-60 minutes and involves a small incision (20 mm) through an endoscopic approach with a tubular retractor.

Microendoscopic discectomy is a very successful procedure when performed on properly selected patients. As many as 90-95% of patients are better and many return to pre-injury level of activity. The risks of surgery include but are not limited to infection, dural tear (resulting in leaking of clear spinal fluid), neurologic injury, recurrent disc herniation, and chronic back or leg pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. In addition there are potential medical risks for anyone undergoing general anesthesia which may necessitate a preoperative medical evaluation.

After you wake up, you will be able to gradually move around and go home. You will need to limit lifting, twisting, or bending for six weeks. You can shower two days after surgery. You should avoid taking baths; the incision area should not be completely submerged in water.

Micro Endoscopic Discectomy may provide pain relief from herniated discs when no other treatments have been effective. In comparison to other surgical methods, this surgery is frequently chosen because it can reduce healing time and give faster relief results; many people can return to regular activities several weeks after the procedure

Most patients with herniated discs experience back and or leg pain that improves with non-operative treatment over 6-12 weeks. A small percentage (10-20%) may have persistent disabling pain despite these efforts or severe pain or neurologic injury necessitating surgical management. The ideal candidate has characteristic “radicular” leg pain (sciatica), a positive straight leg, and a corresponding herniated disc on MRI.  The decision to undergo surgical treatment is a personal decision that should be based on objective medical science and careful benefit risk analysis that is unique to each patient. An experienced fellowship trained spine surgeon can determine if you are a candidate based following a detailed history, physical examination, and imaging review (xray and MRI).

Your spine consists of 33 vertebrae. Between each vertebra, there is a disc of cartilage. These discs are the shock absorbers for the spine. If injury, age, or weight strain causes one of these discs to slip out of place, it is called a herniation. Discectomy is a surgical procedure which removes a herniated disc that compresses a nerve root causing neurologic injury with back and leg pain using a minimally invasive tubular retractor. Its usually performed on patients with persistent leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness that has failed to improve with non operative treatment. Discectomy was first reported by Mixter and Barr in 1934 through an “open” approach. Since that time the procedure has been refined and now performed with minimally invasive spine, (MIS) techniques utilizing 20 mm incisions (microedoscopic discectomy, MED). The procedure involves removing the herniated fragment of disc and any other compressive lesions through a tubular retractor. Its performed as an outpatient procedure. Most patients usually have immediate improvement in pain, return to work in 5-10 days, and resume pre-injury activity levels within 8-12 weeks.