After the anesthesiologist puts you to sleep, you will be turned to lay on your stomach and expose your back. The surgeon cleans and prepares the area of your back where the incision will be made. A fluoroscope is used to insert a needle to the bone with the problematic vertebra and disc.

This form of discectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves a small incision of less than one inch. The muscles along your spine at the area are moved using a set of dilator tubes that will create a tunnel to the vertebra. At this point, a guide wire is inserted through the tubing.

A small drill is then used to make a hole in the bony covering called the lamina. The surgeon will then use a microscope to locate the disc and only remove the exposed part of the disc. If you have any bone spurs, they are also removed. All instruments are then removed, and the incision is closed.