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Open Laser Lumbar Microdiscectomy Surgery
Relevant information about Open Laser Lumbar Microdiscectomy Surgery.
Open Laser Lumbar Microdiscectomy is a surgery that combines surgical instruments and medical laser equipment to remove part of a spinal column disc located in the low back. The spinal column discs are pads that separate the vertebrae. This surgical procedure is one of the usual treatments done when a herniated or damaged disc in the low back is putting pressure on one of the nerves located in the zone. Its objective is to relieve the symptoms generated by this pressure on the spinal column nerves.
This procedure is usually done to treat herniated disc problems in the lumbar zone. A herniated disc, which is also called prolapsed disc, can happen when due to a big pressure, a spinal column disc bulges out from between two vertebrae, thus compressing the spinal canal. When the herniated disc is in the lumbar region, this will cause sharp and continuing back pain, a weakening of the muscles in the leg, and some loss of sensation in the leg and foot. In addition, it becomes difficult to raise the leg when it is held in a straight position.
An Open Laser Lumbar Microdisectomy is done with the patient kneeling face down in a special frame. This special frame supports the patient so the abdomen is relaxed, freeing it of pressure and giving the surgeon more room to work. The affected zone is then cleaned and anesthesia is injected there. Next, an incision about one or two inches is made and the skin and soft tissues are separated in order to expose the bones of the spinal column’s back. A high-speed diamond drill is then used to make a tiny hole in lamina bones above and below the damaged disc. After this is done, a special microscope is used to magnify the surgeon’s view during the rest of the procedure. A tiny incision is made in the ligamentum flavum, which is placed between the lamina and the spinal cord, exposing the compressed nerve. Next, forceps are placed under the nerve and used to lift it. After this, the herniated disc becomes visible. In order to achieve nerve decompression, spinal disc fragments, bone spurs and the scars present in the disc are removed with tiny surgical instruments. After the removal has been done, the damaged disc is treated with holmium laser equipment. The laser vaporizes part of the spinal disc and hardens the rest of the disc to prevent leakage of disc material to the surrounding nerves. Also, during this process, the pain nerves are killed. Finally, the nerves, muscles, and soft tissues are put back in place, and the skin is stitched together.
After staying at the hospital for a period of time between 2 and 5 days, the patient may return home. Activities that require prolonged sitting time may be done again within a week or two. Light work can be done after four weeks and heavier work and sports within two to three months. Physical therapy is usually prescribed when patients have extra pain or show significant muscle weakness.
There are two possible complications for this type of spinal surgery. Nerve damage can happen during the procedure. It usually occurs when a surgical instrument damages one of the nerves from the zone. Consequence of this is muscle weakness and loss of sensation to the areas supplied by the damaged nerve. The other possible complication, ongoing pain after the surgery, is rare, but it may happen due an infection of the bones and the soft tissues of spinal column. This usually requires another operation.
The operation relieves the pain and numbness symptoms, preserving as much tissue as possible.
If the herniated disc is a result of a Degenerative Disc Disease process, the surgery can only temporarily solve the problem. Eventually, new operations may be required.
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