Endoscopic Discectomy

What is a discectomy?

A discectomy is a surgical procedure to treat a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease. In both conditions, the disc bulges out from between the vertebrae and pushes against the nearby nerves. As a result, the nerves become inflamed and you have severe pain.

When you have a discectomy, your provider removes the bulging part or the entire disc. This decompresses the nerve and relieves your pain.

What happens during an endoscopic discectomy?

Pain Management Specialists of New York has extensive experience performing endoscopic discectomies. An endoscopic discectomy is a minimally invasive procedure, which means your provider makes an incision that's typically less than one-half inch long.

They don't cut the muscles. Instead, they guide a round retractor through the muscle fibers and gently separate the fibers until the opening is large enough to accommodate the pencil-thin endoscope.

The endoscope holds a camera that transmits a magnified image of your disc and spine to a monitor. Your provider inserts surgical instruments through the scope to perform your discectomy.

How does annuloplasty differ from endoscopic discectomy?

Annuloplasty, also called intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET), is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs the disc's outer cover (annulus).

Due to the aging process or following a traumatic event, the outer cover can develop weakened areas or tears. These changes let the inner gel-like part of the disc to bulge through the weakened area.

Annuloplasty uses precisely controlled heat to repair the cover. The heat closes any tears, strengthens the weak areas, and also desensitizes nerves in the area. The newly restored disc significantly reduces your chronic low back pain.

Your provider may recommend annuloplasty alone or use it together with an endoscopic discectomy, depending on your diagnosis.

What happens during annuloplasty?

Annuloplasty doesn't need an incision because it's done using a specialized needle. After numbing the site on your back, your provider inserts the needle and uses fluoroscopy (real-time X-ray imaging) to guide the needle into the targeted disc.

Once the needle is in the disc, your provider sends a small catheter through the needle, precisely guiding the catheter around the inner part of the cover to the damaged area. Then they send heat through the catheter and into the disc.

When the annuloplasty is finished, your provider removes the catheter and needle and places a bandage over the site. They monitor you for a short time before you go home.

If you have chronic neck or back pain, call Pain Management Specialists of New York, or connect online to request an appointment.