What is a Lumbar Discectomy?

In this video, we discuss the most commonly performed lumbar spine surgical procedure, the ‘lumbar discectomy’.

A lumbar discectomy is performed primarily to eliminate pain from a compressed nerve root. The pain usually travels down one or both of the legs and is described as a burning pain. In the case of the nerve being compressed from a disc herniation, then the procedure is performed to remove the offending disc material and decompress the involved nerve root. The surgeon usually needs to remove some of the bony structure at the back of the spine to reach the herniated disc material and this can range from a small removal to a larger excision of the bone to allow for an unconstrained pathway to the disc.

Discectomies are usually performed for the following symptoms:

• Intractable neural pain that radiates down the legs.

• Progressive loss of function/strength of the lower limbs, such as a foot drop or loss of the ability to straighten the knee.

• Red flag emergencies, such as loss of bowel or bladder function or progressive numbness in the genital area.