Disruption of intervertebral discs can cause both lower back and leg pain by irritating the local nerve
endings as well as segmental nerve roots. This condition has traditionally been treated by open
discectomy. Percutaneous discectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed with
only local anesthetics and sedation and does not require any incisions.
The patient will be placed in a prone (face down) position and the level to be treated will be confirmed
using fluoroscope (live X-ray). The skin will be numbed with small amount of local anesthetics and a
needle probe will be directed inside the affected disc using direct fluoroscopic views. After studying the
annular boundaries of the disk by injection of contrast, the disc will be decompressed by aspiration of
1-2 cc of disc material. The patient will then be taken to recovery room and monitored for about one
hour prior to discharge home.
We perform this procedure on a selected group of patients with less than 6mm contained disk herniation,
and who have failed more conservative therapy, such as anti inflammatory medications, physical therapy,
and injectional modalities such as epidural steroid injections.
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