Several kinds of surgery can be used to treat a collapsed disc. Each patient will need to consult with his or her treatment team to determine the right approach for his or her particular needs — or even to determine if surgery is necessary at all.

Many times, patients are able to treat their collapsed disc symptoms without surgery. However, if symptoms persist despite several attempts at conservative treatment, surgery may be the appropriate next step.

Procedures used for collapsed disc treatment

There are three main types of collapsed disc surgery. These include:

• Laminectomy. During a laminectomy, a surgeon removes the bony roof, or lamina, of the one or more vertebrae to alleviate pressure within the spinal canal.
• Discectomy. During a discectomy, a surgeon removes damaged disc material that is compressing a nerve root or the spinal cord. This may be followed by a spinal fusion or an artificial disc replacement.
• Spinal fusion. During a spinal fusion, a surgeon removes one or more discs and permanently secures the adjoining vertebrae in place with a bone graft or surgical implant.

Traditional vs. minimally invasive approaches

Sometimes, collapsed disc surgery is done as an inpatient procedure using a traditional surgical approach. Open neck or back surgery often involves large incisions, long hospital stays and extensive recovery periods. Complication rates vary from procedure to procedure.

Other times, collapsed disc surgery can be performed as an outpatient procedure using minimally invasive techniques. At USA Spine Care, we perform thousands of minimally invasive spine surgeries each year.^{^} Our procedures use small incisions and muscle-sparing techniques.

If you’re considering surgical treatment for a collapsed disc, contact USA Spine Care to learn more about our minimally invasive procedures and their advantages, which include no lengthy recovery.^{^}

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