Lumbar microdiscectomy removes the herniated portion of a disc that is pressing on a spinal nerve root, relieving leg pain, numbness, and weakness caused by lumbar disc herniation.
Recommended for patients with radicular leg pain from lumbar disc herniation that has not improved after 6 to 12 weeks of conservative treatment including physical therapy and injections.
Performed under general anesthesia through a small incision in the lower back, typically taking 45 to 90 minutes. A microscope or loupe magnification is used to remove only the herniated disc fragment. Most patients go home the same day or after one night.
Risks include recurrent disc herniation, infection, nerve injury, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and incomplete symptom relief.
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