Lumbar Microdiscectomy NJ

A microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove a section of a damaged or herniated intervertebral disc. Also referred to as a microdiscectomy decompression, the procedure is done endoscopically, with small incisions that protect the nerves surrounding your damaged disc. A microdiscectomy is a more precise version of a discectomy. Dr. Branko Skovrlj — an award-winning neurosurgeon and the founder of Lumbar Microdiscectomy NJ in New Jersey — performs this procedure, when more conservative approaches to pain relief haven’t worked. Once you’re under the general anesthesia, Dr. Skovrlj makes the incisions near the problem disc. He inserts the endoscope, using the monitor to guide it to the targeted disc. Using small surgical tools passed through the tube, the surgeon may first remove a small piece of the vertebra shielding the spinal cord, called the lamina, in a procedure called a laminectomy. The laminectomy is required if the disc is protruding into your spinal canal, creating a condition called stenosis. Once Dr. Skovrlj has access to the disc, he can use the tools to remove the disc or its contents that rub up against your nerve. Removing the disc reduces the pressure on your impacted nerve. The tools are withdrawn, and the incisions are closed and dressed. Your doctor may have to perform a spinal fusion to make up for the disc that’s no longer doing its job. The fusion adds strength and stability to your spine. Usually performed on an in-patient basis because you’re not conscious during the procedure, microdiscectomies may require an overnight