Slip Disc Surgery | Spine 360, Bangalore

A close-up image of the lumbar spine model illustrates slip disc surgery.

Lumbar Disc Surgery: An Overview

The prime objective of a slip disc surgery or lumbar discectomy is to remove the herniated disc that’s compressing the spinal nerve and causing pain and discomfort.
This surgical treatment, however, is not the ultimate solution for treating herniated discs. Only 5% of patients diagnosed with lumbar disc prolapse will eventually need surgery if physical therapy and medication fail to relieve the symptoms of nerve damage.

Our spine doctors in Bangalore recommend this minimally invasive surgery when the herniated disc causes severe pain and nerve weakness while standing or walking. The incision is made posterior, through the deep paraspinal muscles, to remove the disc pressing on the nerve.

Our doctors may also recommend advanced surgical techniques like MISS (Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery) to reduce hospital stay and help you return to your routine earlier than conventional microscopic discectomy.

When You Will Need Lumbar Disc Surgery

Our surgeons may suggest lumbar disc surgery as the final option only under the following medical circumstances:

When a herniated disc causes unbearable pain despite 6-12 weeks of medication, physical and conservative therapies.

When your nerve weakness impacts your mobility and ability to stand without experiencing pain or discomfort.

Spine 360’s Surgical Treatments for Herniated Disc

Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy (TELD)

Also known as Open Microdiscectomy, this procedure is the golden standard, minimally invasive treatment for Radiculopathy with LDH or Lumbar Disc Herniation. Thanks to these remarkable technical advancements, the clinical outcomes of TELD are on par with those of conventional open surgery.

Interlaminar Endoscopic Discectomy

Our doctors may suggest endoscopic interlaminar discectomy to treat Unilateral Radiculopathy caused by LDH or Lateral Recess Stenosis. This procedure is performed using simple surgical tools rather than expensive endoscopic systems.

Tube-assisted Discectomy

The METRx X-Tube system, combined with an operating microscope, offers a modified approach to microendoscopic discectomy. Also known as lumbar discectomy, this approach is used to dilate the soft tissue and retract the muscles with tubes instead of cutting and exposing the entire area.

Pre-Surgical Care for Slip Disc Surgery

What to Expect During Lumbar Disc Surgery

Guidelines For Post-Surgical Care

Our doctors may suggest the following measures before your lumbar disc surgery. You may be asked to:

Continue taking your prescribed medication.
Avoid non-steroidal anticoagulants tablets a week before surgery.
Avoid smoking and alcohol intake one or two weeks before surgery to prevent bleeding and promote faster healing.
Avoid eating or drinking after midnight before surgery unless otherwise prescribed by our doctors. (A small sip of water for oral medication is allowed.)
Take a fresh shower with antibacterial soap and dress in comfortable, clean, and loose-fitting clothes.
Remove all traces of makeup, body piercings, jewellery, contact lenses, hairclips, and nail polish.
Wear flat-heeled comfortable shoes with closed backs.
Inform your doctor of any medication or food-related allergies.

The procedure generally lasts for an hour. Here’s what you need to know:

Our anesthetist will administer a local or general anesthetic to make the procedure painless.
Your vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, will be monitored to ensure your safety.
Our surgeon will make a small incision on your skin using a special X-ray to ensure the accurate location of the affected disc.
A wire is inserted into the vertebral space, after which a larger tube is pushed over this wire. A second or third tube may be inserted to delicately separate the tissue down to the vertebra.
Once the vertebra is exposed, all the tubes, with the exception of the largest one, are removed.
Your surgeon will use this space to insert a camera, light, and special surgical tools to remove the herniated disc and perform other repairs.
Once the procedure is done, the tools and tube are removed, and the incision is closed with a suture.

Although you may feel immediate relief post-surgery, you may experience the following symptoms for several weeks. Nonetheless, these symptoms should alleviate, and you will feel fine.

Pain around the incision for which our doctors will prescribe oral pain medications.
You may require a night’s stay in the hospital, after which you will be discharged the following day.
Sometimes, our doctors may suggest a lumbar corset brace to alleviate pain.
Depending on your progress, we may suggest gentle activities to promote healing and mobility.
It is advisable to refrain from engaging in strenuous activity or workouts until your surgeon permits you to do so.

FAQs About Lumbar Disc Surgery

1. What is the post-surgical care for slip disc surgery?

Generally, you should be able to return home on the day of surgery itself. We recommend the following self-care measures post-surgery:

Keep the wound completely dry for at least ten days.
Maintain a good posture while sitting or walking.
Avoid sitting in the same position for long to prevent back strain.
Follow the physiotherapy tips to increase your activity levels.

2. How successful is a lumbar discectomy in rectifying nerve compression?

According to various studies, lumbar discectomy generally has a 70-90 percent success rate. However, the surgery may not be a permanent cure for nerve compression since it does not address the root cause of the herniated disc. Furthermore, success results vary from one person to another. Hence, we suggest you clarify your doubts with your doctors at Spine 360.

3. How beneficial is the lumbar disc prolapse treatment?

The procedure relieves the nerve compression due to the slipped disc, gives you immense relief from Sciatica and helps you resume your normal activities.

4. Are there alternative procedures to lumbar discectomy?

At Spine 360, we resort to lumbar discectomy only when our non-surgical treatments fail to deliver adequate results. We always commence our treatment with medication and physiotherapy to help relieve the pain and discomfort. Our doctors may also suggest an epidural steroid injection if the pain is unbearable.