Between the vertebrae of the spine lie the spinal discs. The discs are specialized round pieces of cartilage that provide cushioning and absorb shock, helping the spine to move and support the body.
When the softer inner portion of a disc breaks through the tougher outer layer, it is called a disc herniation. This can result over time from weakening of the disc or from injury. Disc herniations can affect the stability of the spine and can push into nearby nerves, causing nerve compression, pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Herniated disc treatment varies depending on the herniation location, size, and severity of symptoms, including pain. Physical therapy can help improve the spine’s strength and stability, while medications and injections can help relieve pain. When symptoms are significant and impact daily functions, surgery may be considered.
A discectomy, or partial disc removal, removes a portion of a herniated disc that is pressing on a nerve. This often relieves nerve compression and pain. Depending on the direction that the disc has herniated, different techniques can be used, including interlaminar and transforaminal approaches. In other cases, a foraminotomy can be used to widen the space where a nerve root exits from the spinal cord. This helps reduce nerve compression without removing part of the disc.
Many surgeries for herniated discs can be performed endoscopically with an instrument called an endoscope that contains a light, a camera, and a channel for tools to pass through. Endoscopic procedures involve very small incisions and allow the surgeon to remove the herniated disc and/or other material through the endoscope to relieve compression on nearby nerve roots.
