Percutaneous Discectomy

Percutaneous discectomy is typically recommended for those who have not been successful with traditional treatments for a herniated or bulging disc, including pain medication, physical therapy, and nerve blocking injections.  In most cases, and due to the relatively small size of the disc herniation, most patients opting for this procedure are not eligible for surgery.
 
Percutaneous discectomy may also be recommended if:

• The bulging disc hasn’t ruptured into the spinal column.
• Pain, inflammation, irritation and nerve damage have not improved after 6 or more weeks of continuous non-surgical treatment.
• Your symptoms become progressively worse and/or prevent you from carrying out normal daily activities, such as walking, dressing, and caring for yourself.
• Symptoms indicate serious nerve damage and include weakness, loss of sensation, and loss of balance or coordination in the legs.
• The patient has decreased mobility resulting from various degenerative diseases, including osteoporosis.

Percutaneous discectomy is performed in an outpatient setting and under local anaesthesia or light sedative; the procedure typically takes about an hour from start to finish.
 
Using a small needle designed to reach the affected disc, percutaneous discectomy eliminates the need for large incisions and more invasive surgical procedures. Once the needle has been inserted in the proper location, your doctor will insert a probe with a rotating tip through the needle.
 
Radio waves or heat are then used to create space in the disc, removing small portions of the disc that are responsible for causing increased pressure on the affective nerve. Patients will experience nearly immediate pain relief as pressure is relieved from the nerve.

Percutaneous discectomy is considered to be an extremely safe procedure, however, as with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with it. The most commonly reported risk/side effect of this procedure is post-procedure pain and tenderness at the injection site.

Research continues to indicate that percutaneous discectomy is very effective in reducing pain associated with back and neck pain and improving the patient’ function in nearly 90% of patients undergoing the procedure.