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Herniated Disk Surgery
A herniated disk is a spinal disk that has ruptured or torn, allowing the jelly-like interior of the disk to leak out past the cartilaginous exterior. While in most cases, this does not cause any issues for the afflicted person, in some instances, it can result in debilitating pain and other symptoms.
For those people who experience symptoms, conservative treatments are usually enough to make life bearable until the disk has healed, as most do within a few weeks or months. However, herniated disk surgery may be necessary for a select few whose herniated disk has not healed over time and continues to present significant and life-altering symptoms.
Minimally Invasive Herniated Disk Surgery
When it comes to surgery to treat a torn disk, there are two options: open back and neck surgery, and minimally invasive or endoscopic spine surgery. A safe, effective alternative to the more traditional open back and neck surgeries, endoscopic procedures offer many advantages and are even an option for some people who don't qualify for other types of surgery due to health complications or the results of a previous back surgery.
Some of the other ways these procedures differ from open surgeries include:
- Shorter incision length
- Reduced risk of infection
- Performed on an outpatient basis
- Recovery time of just weeks instead of months
- Higher success rate
For more information or a complimentary review of your CT scan or MRI by a Laser Spine Institute doctor, contact us. We'll be happy to discuss all your treatment options with you including herniated disk surgery.