A commonly used micro-invasive spine procedure, microdiscectomy is also known as micro decompression. It is used to relieve the pressure of the nerves and ease back pain. Microdiscectomy is used as an alternative to the traditional discectomies performed on the back.
In a traditional discectomy, the doctor makes a large incision on the back including the back muscles to get a clear view of the spine. This is more complex and requires a longer, more painful recovery.
To prevent muscular damage and decrease recovery time, microdiscectomy is used where the doctor creates a small incision and heals the affected area using a set of tools and visual instruments.
When is the procedure required?
Damage to the spinal cord is when microdiscectomy is used but there are two specific instances in which the surgical procedure is used.
- When a fragment of your intervertebral disc is broken and is putting pressure on your spinal nerves thus causing pain.
- Another scenario is when the intervertebral disc is intact but is putting pressure on the nerves due to a bulge or excessive growth.
The process of Microdiscectomy
Microdiscectomy is a very common surgical procedure and can be performed in three different ways.
- Mini-open: In this process, the surgeon uses visual devices inserted through smaller incisions to view your spine. But, the process is similar to open discectomy.
- Tubular Microdiscectomy: As the name suggests, this process uses tubes to remove a part of the disc. A small incision is used to pass the tube through the back muscles until it reaches the spine. Further expanding tubes are inserted around one another. These either expand or dilate, based on the requirement, and are further used to extract the part of the disc.
- Endoscopic: This process uses a small video camera known as an endoscope. This endoscope is inserted via a tube and enables the doctor to see the spine. The doctor then uses miniaturized instruments to remove the portion of the disc.
Risk and Recovery
While every surgery involves the risk of surgery such as infection and blood loss, certain complications might show up post microdiscectomy. These include the revival of back pain, re-herniation of the back, partial removal of the disc, and even damage to the spinal cord, back muscles, and nerves. But since it is a micro-invasive surgery, the chances are low.
Recovery time for an ideal microdiscectomy procedure is 2 weeks and the patients can feel a significant amount of pain relief.
Czechia: An upcoming destination for Microdiscectomy
Microdiscectomy in Czechia is one of the best because of the country’s ability to offer highly professional doctors, cutting-edge technology, and affordable treatment. The starting cost of a microdiscectomy hospital, Czechia is USD 12000 but the cost varies between different hospitals and clinics. This includes pre-op and surgery expenses and the patient is advised to stay in the country for 14 days. Some popular hospitals include the Czech medical center and Forme clinic.
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