This page will give you information about a lumbar discectomy. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or other relevant health professional.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain down your leg caused by pressure on a nerve where it leaves your spine. This can happen if a disc in your spine becomes worn and develops a bulge (a 'slipped disc') (see figure 1).
The Procedure
What Does the Lumbar Discectomy Involve?
Various anaesthetic techniques are possible. The spinal operation usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.
Your surgeon will make a cut on the centre of your lower back. They will part the muscles and remove a small amount of ligament and sometimes bone to get to the disc.
Your spinal surgeon will remove the piece of disc that is pressing on the nerve.
What Complications Can Happen?
General Complications
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection of the surgical site (wound)
- Unsightly scarring
- Blood clots
- Difficulty passing urine
Specific Complications
- Continued pain or numbness down your leg
- Numbness between your legs, loss of normal bowel and bladder control and, for men, problems with having an erection
- Tear of the thin membrane that covers the nerves in your spine
- Infection of the intervertebral disc
Consultants and Clinic Times
Mr Pratipal Kalsi
BSc, MBBS, MRCS(Lon), FRCS(Lon), PhD
Specialities
Neurosurgery, Spinal Surgery
Professor Marios Papadopoulos
MA MD FRCS(SN)
Specialities
Neurosurgery, Spinal Surgery
Mr Christian Ulbricht
MD, MRCS, FRCS(Neurosurg)
