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PLAINVIEW: 901 Old Country Rd., Plainview, NY 11803
HUNTINGTON: 110 East Main St., Huntington, NY 11743
833-774-6333 (833-SPINE-33)
SpineCare Long Island
Microdiscectomy
Overview
A minimally invasive microdiscectomy is a procedure to remove herniated disc material that presses on nerves or the spinal cord causing pain and weakness in the patient. Many ruptured discs may be resolved on their own, non-surgically, so that microdiscectomy is not necessary.
About the Microdiscectomy Procedure
During the surgery, a fluoroscope is used to project live x-ray pictures onto a monitor giving the surgeon a clearer view of the area being treated. The spine surgeon typically performs most of the surgery to repair the ruptured disc while watching it on the monitor.
The spine surgeon will wear safety glasses with a microscope attached to each eye to increase their vision of the small area being operated on.
About a one inch incision is made over the injured disc on the patient’s back. Small wires are slowly inserted into the incision site to help split the muscle in the spine and allows for a small opening for the spine surgeon to work within. The wires help spread the muscles instead of cutting it and causing unnecessary damage. A specially fitted retractor is used to hold the muscles to the side and out of the way during the operation. A very tiny amount of bone (lamina) is removed to allow for more space between the two vertebrae, in which no instability results from this. Then the nerve is retracted towards the middle of the spine. This procedure helps remove pressure on the pinched nerve.
In most cases microdiscectomy is performed as an outpatient procedure or 23 hour stay. Most patients are able to return to work in one to two weeks following a microdiscectomy.
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Our Physicians
Kevin Mullins, MD, FAANS, FACS
Board-certified Neurological Surgeon
Specializing in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Medical Director of SpineCare Long Island
Amit Sharma, MD
Board-certified in Interventional Pain Medicine
Interventional Spine Care Specialist
Director of Interventional Pain Management
at SpineCare Long Island
Salvatore Zavarella, DO, FACOS
Board-certified Neurological Surgeon
Specializing in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Director of Spine Surgery
at SpineCare Long Island
Do you NEED spine surgery?
Spine Conditions
Have back or neck pain? Learn what causes symptoms and the home remedies that relieve pain. Experts estimate that 50% of back surgeries are unnecessary. Fact: Many people can recover from painful disc-related symptoms with nonsurgical treatment options like a spinal injection that reduces inflammation around a nerve root or customized spine therapy.
Spine Treatments
The good news is that 80% of back and neck pain gets better on its own over time. Only a small percentage of patients will ever need spine surgery. Isn’t that a relief? Learn about non-surgical treatment options.
Home Remedy Book
As a community service to those who live on Long Island, SpineCare Long Island mails out a free 36-page Home Remedy Book with customized stretches that can relieve some back and neck pain symptoms. Enter your name and address and we will mail you a copy.
Symptoms Chart
Some symptoms can become permanent if you don’t see the physician within 24 hours. Find out when you can use “watchful waiting” and when you have an emergency symptom.
