Disc decompression is a procedure that can help relieve pain, numbness and decreased mobility caused by disc conditions such as a ruptured, herniated or bulging disc. Performed as a minimally invasive spine surgery, these procedures can be a safer and effective alternative to traditional open back surgery.^

The purpose is to remove a small portion of the damaged spinal disc in order to relieve pressure on a pinched nerve in the spine. By only removing a portion of the disc, the spine is still stabilized and the symptoms of pain are reduced while the damaged disc continues to heal.

If you have been diagnosed with a degenerative disc condition and are being recommended to undergo spinal surgery, you should research the advantages of minimally invasive surgery compared to traditional spine surgery. There are several key differences between the two that should be considered before you pick the right type of surgery for your needs.

What are the benefits of minimally invasive disc decompression?

At USA Spine Care, we perform a minimally invasive disc decompression procedure called a discectomy. During this procedure, a less than 1-inch incision is made and the muscles around the spine are gently pushed aside with a series of dilating tubes. This is a huge added benefit to patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery because a muscle-sparing approach reduces a patient’s risk of infection, excessive blood loss and other complications.^

In contrast, traditional open spine surgery requires a large incision that cuts through and detaches the muscles near the spine in order to let the surgeon access the damaged disc. This leads to increased risks of complications and a prolonged recovery time while the muscles heal with the spine.

In more severe cases patients at USA Spine Care may be recommended to undergo a minimally invasive stabilization procedure. Unlike traditional fusion that uses a large incision and bulky hardware, our minimally invasive stabilizations use a small incision to access the spine to remove a damaged disc and fuse the vertebrae.

To learn more about USA Spine Care’s minimally invasive procedures, including discectomy, please contact us. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide a free MRI review* to determine if you are a potential candidate for one of our procedures.

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