FACTS ABOUT DISCS

The spine is made up of many bones called vertebrae. These are roughly circular and between each vertebra is a disc. A disc has stronger fibrous outer part and a softer jelly like middle part called the nucleous pulposus come out it is called prolapsed disc or slipped disc.

SYMPTOMS OF SLIPPED OR PROLAPSED DISC

• Back pain
• Nerve root; pain (sciatica)
• Pins and needles sensation
• Numbness or weakness in part of buttock, leg or foot
• Difficulty in passing urine and stools

HOW ARE DISC PROBLEM DIAGNOSED

• MRI spine
• CT Spine
• X ray spine

HOW IS A DISC PROLAPSE TREATED

• Conservation management
• Traditional open microdiscectomy
• PELD (PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC LUMBAR DISCECTOMY)

UNIQUE FACTS ABOUT PELD

PELD can be done as a day care procedure. There is no cutting of muscles or bones. It is done under local anaesthesia and the patient is fully awake and totally aware during the entire procedure. It is done by inserting a needles into the disc space and dilating the path. Through the path an endoscope is inserted and under the guidance of endoscope, prolapsed disc material is removed using FORECEPS, LASERS, and RADIO FREQUENCY PROBE.

ADVANTAGES OF PELD

• Done under LOCAL ANAESTHESIA
• 6-8 mm incision (cosmetic)
• No injury to muscle or bone
• Preserves normal disc, hence no risk of post op spinal instability
• Day care procedure, discharged on same day
• Get back to work very early compare to other open surgeries
• Cost effective