A discectomy, also called an open discectomy when performed through a skin opening of half an inch or larger, is the surgical removal of abnormal disc material that presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord, causing pain, weakness or numbness. The procedure removes a portion of an intervertebral disc, and the traditional open technique, known as Love's technique, was published by Ross and Love in 1971. Later advances produced visualization improvements including microdiscectomy, an open discectomy performed with the aid of an external microscope through a smaller opening, and endoscopic discectomy, in which a scope is passed internally through an opening as small as two millimeters. A discectomy is often accompanied by a laminotomy, the removal of a portion of the vertebra's lamina bone, to give the surgeon better access to the site of the disc herniation.
Facts
Partially Attested
Origin YearYear the traditional open technique (Love's technique) was published; the source gives no origin date for discectomy itself. Connections
Treats
Discectomy is a standard surgical treatment for a herniated disc causing persistent nerve compression.
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discectomy, lead sectionQuote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discectomy, lead section
A discectomy is the surgical removal of abnormal disc material that presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord.
2. Discectomy - Wikipedia
Intro, sentence 3Quote, Intro, sentence 3
was published by Ross and Love in 1971
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