Intradiscal Procedures
The cutting edge of interventional spine work is on the disc. Technology is enabling physicians to treat injuries to the disc and eliminate pain with a minimally invasive approach, frequently through a needle. The treatments of types can be divided into two categories intradiscal decompression and annuloplasty.
Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy
Disc decompression is can be effective for treating a small, contained herniated disc. With a decompression procedure, nuclear material is removed from the disc to reduce pressure and hopefully allow the disc protrusion to resolve. There are many techniques for this with some links provided below.
Annuloplasty
Annuloplasty procedures are used to treat tears in the annulus, usually without an associated disc protrusion. These tears must be diagnosed as painful by discogram prior to treatment. The treatment can be effective in properly selected patients and on occasion may be used in conjunction with a disc decompression procedure.
If you have any questions about the procedure or any of the information you have just read, please ask the staff or your doctor. They will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.