MICROSCOPIC DISCECTOMY

THE L4 ROOT IS CLEARLY SEEN DURING MICROSCOPIC LUMBAR SPINE SURGERY. THE LINE POINTS TO THE L4 NERVE ROOT WHICH IS EXITING TO THE LEFT.  THE NERVE ROOT IS SEEN  UNDER THE MICROSCOPE WITHIN THE SPINAL CANAL  AND HAS VEINS ALONG SIDE OF THE NERVE. UNDER THE ROOT WERE MULTIPLE FRAGMENTS OF DISC MATRERIAL. THE PICURE SHOWS THE SMALL DARK CAVITY BELOW THE DISTAL PORTION OF THE ROOT WHERE THE DISC FRAGMENTS WERE PREVIOUSLY LOCATED..

THE PHOTOGRAPH IS TAKEN THROUGH A CAMERA ATTACHED TO THE OPERATING ROOM MICROSCOPE. A SMALL 1 " INCISION IS MADE IN THE MID-LINE OF THE LOW BACK DIRECTLY OVER THE AREA OF THE HERNIATED DISC. THE PATIENT WILL REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL AS LONG AS NECESSARY GENERALLY AS AN OUT PATIENT OR IF NECESSARY FOR A 23 HOUR OBSERVATION STAY BASED ON THEIR CLINICAL OUTCOME AFTER THE OPERATION. THE PATIENT IS ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN WALKING THE SAME DAY AS THE SURGERY.

THE CERVICAL C6 NERVE ROOT IS SEEN DURING A POSTERIOR MICROSCOPIC CERVICAL DISCECTOMY SURGERY. THE NERVE ROOT IS EXITING TO THE LEFT SIDE TO INNERVATE MUSCLES OF THE SHOULDER AND ARM.   BELOW THE ROOT AS POINTED TO BY THE VERTICAL LINE, IS AN EXTRUDED DISC FRAGMENT . THE DISC FRAGMENT HERNIATED THROUGH A TEAR IN THE POSTERIOR ASPECT OF THE ANNULUS FIBROSIS OR COVERING OF THE DISC. THE WHITE DISC FRAGMENT IS SEEN COMPRESSING THE VENTRAL PORTION OF THE NERVE ROOT. THE HORIZONTAL LINE POINTS TO THE NERVE ROOT. THIS MINIMALLY INVASIVE MICROSCOPIC SURGERY WAS PERFORMED  THROUGH A SMALL MID-LINE INCISION IN THE BACK OF THE NECK.

THE CAMERA IS FOCUSED ON THE DEEPER STRUCTURES WITHING THE SPINAL CANAL.  THE SUPERFICIAL SKIN AND FAT AND MUSCLE LAYERS ARE NOT VISUALIZED ON THE PHOTOGRAPH.

THE PATIENT WILL REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL AS LONG AS NECESSARY GENERALLY EITHER AS AN OUT-PATIENT DAY PROCEDURE OR FOR A 23 HOUR OBSERVATION OVERNIGHT.. THE PATIENT IS ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN WALKING THE SAME DAY AS THE SURGERY.