Herniated Disc Surgery

Herniated disc surgery, is performed to patients with pain due to sciatic nerve injury caused by herniation or sliding of some vertebral discs in the spine. It is noteworthy that medicine has developed in this area that disc surgery became with minimal surgical interventions and less pain and thus a faster recovery period.

Herniated disk surgery may include a number of options to relieve the pain, including vertebral laminae removal, intervertebral disc removal, artificial discs implantation or vertebral fusion, orthopedic surgeons choose the best option depending on the patient's condition.

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An orthopaedic surgeon may decide to perform herniated disc surgery because one of the following disorders:

• Sciatic nerve pain or sciatica.
• Motor or sensory failure in the legs.
• Some changes in intestines and bladder function.
• Feeling a gradual neurological deficit.

The patient undergoes a series of tests before the herniated disc surgery, including:

• Patient's medical history.
• Clinical examination of the patient.
• Straight leg raise test.
• MRI examination of the spinal cord.
• CT scan of the spinal cord and surrounding structures of the vertebrae.
• Electromyography; to measure electrical impulses along nerves and muscles.
• X-Ray for the vertebrae.

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Herniated disc surgery involves the following steps:

1. Anesthesia of the patient (general anesthetic).
2. Turning the patient on the abdomen to facilitate access to the back area.
3. Making a very small incision in the back and insert an expanded tool to spacing the muscles and form a tunnel to reach the vertebrae.
4. Making small holes in the vertebral laminae above and below the spinal nerve.
5. The surgeon is keen to protect the nerve root before starting cartilage removal.
6. Removal of the sliding cartilage pressing the nerve.
7. Releasing the nerve afterwards.
8. Putting a substance to stop bleeding and adhesion.
9. Remove the tools and closing the slit and covering it.

Herniated disc surgery takes about “50 minutes”.

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Herniated disc surgery may include some risks and complications, such as:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Nerve damage.
• Feeling stiffness in the joints of the vertebrae in the back; may be permanent in some cases.

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The patient can return to his normal activities and return to work after nearly 1 to 4 weeks of the surgery, if the work does not require effort such as office work and others, while patients with strenuous activities that require effort can return to work after about a month.

The orthopaedic surgeon gives a set of tips to patients after a herniated disc surgery followed for about two weeks, including:

• Do not sit for long periods.
• Avoid carrying heavy weights for about two weeks.
• Avoid bending back.
• Avoid sports or works that require physical effort.
• Exercises after a herniated disc is very limited, during the first period are limited to walking only for about 5 to 10 minutes a day.

(Will be added soon, God willing)

• Hip replacement surgery
• Spinal fusion surgery 
• Spinal stenosis surgery

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Last updated on 14 October 2021

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