Lumbar Discectomy

Discectomy is a surgery performed on the lower back to remove damaged disc material that is causing pain and other symptoms. The Erie back injury lawyers at Purchase, George and Murphey, P.C. offer information, links, and animation of this procedure for people considering this procedure for themselves or for their loved ones.

Discectomy is surgery to remove a herniated or damaged portion of a disc in your spine. The purpose of discectomy is to relieve symptoms caused by the pressure that a herniated disc places on a spinal nerve.

The first step is to remove a portion of the lamina of the vertebra. The lamina is the portion of the vertebra that forms the roof over the spinal nerves. Removing a portion of the lamina creates a window into the spine. The nerves are then pulled to the side so that the herniated disk can be seen. Small instruments are then used to remove the herniated disk material. Most of the nucleus pulposus is removed to prevent the disk from herniating again. Once the disk material is removed, the nerves are free of pressure and irritation. The lamina and the area of the disk that is removed fill with scar tissue very rapidly.

Sometimes, surgeons are able to perform a less-invasive procedure known as a miscrodiscectomy. Click on the links to see an animation or a video of a microdiscectomy. A microdiscectomy is performed through a small (1 inch to 1 1/2 inch) incision in the mid-line of the lower back.

• First, the back muscles are lifted off the spine. These muscles can be moved out of the way rather than be cut.
• The surgeon is then able to enter the spine by removing a membrane over the nerve roots (ligamentum flavum).
• Often, a small portion of the inside facet joint is removed both to facilitate access to the nerve root and to relieve pressure over the nerve.The nerve root is then gently moved to the side and the disc material is removed from under the nerve root.

Importantly, since almost all of the joints, ligaments, and muscles are left intact, a microdiscectomy does not change the mechanical structure of the patient’s lower spine (lumbar spine).

A discectomy is performed to relieve the pressure that a herniated disk (also called slipped, ruptured, or bulging disk or disk prolapse) places on a spinal nerve.

Your doctor may recommend discectomy if:

• Conservative treatment, such as medication or physical therapy, fails to improve your symptoms after six weeks.
• A disk fragment lodges in your spinal canal, pressing on a nerve.
• You have trouble standing or walking.
• Pain radiates into your buttocks or legs.

The Erie back injury lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. have experience with cases involving discectomies and microdiscectomies (sometimes discectomies). These cases often result from car accidents, truck accidents or slip and falls. Our primary goal and objective is to make sure that our clients and their families receive the compensation and resources they need to treat and manage their spine injury and to compensate them for their losses.

As skilled Erie injury lawyers who have helped injured clients who required discectomies, we understand how to evaluate these cases and can help you obtain the funds necessary to pay for your discectomy and attendant medical care.

Call Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. today, toll free at 814-273-2010, to schedule your free and confidential consultation with an Erie discectomy Lawyer.

We will fight for your legal rights to the money and resources you need to fix what can be fixed, help what can be helped, and make up for what cannot be fixed or helped.