Microdiscectomy is an operation whereby a small part of a herniated disc is removed to relieve the compression effects. The UCLA Comprehensive Spine Information Center explains that a microdiscectomy procedure is less invasive than a traditional disc removal operation, called a discectomy, because the incision is smaller and the instruments used to spread the muscles of the back in order to gain access to the spinal cord push the tissues away gently. This reduces muscle damage and postoperative pain. While microdiscectomy is generally safe, some complications may occur.
Injury
MayoClinic.com discusses the risks of injury during herniated disc removal operations. Although it is not very common, the orthopedic surgeon may inadvertently injure the nerves coming in and out of the spinal cord or the blood vessels around the spine. The nerve injury may or may not result in weakness or paralysis depending on the injured nerves. Another important structure that can be potentially injured is the dura, or the spinal cord's protective sheath. If this protective layer is injured, the spinal fluid may leak out into the vertebral canal. A patient with a tear in the dura is prone to developing a potentially lethal infection of the central nervous system.
Bleeding
MayoClinic.com lists bleeding as one of the potential complications of a microdiscectomy. Bleeding can occur due to an injury of an artery or a vein. If a direct branch of the aorta is injured, it could potentially cause a severe, life-threatening drop in blood pressure and circulatory compromise. If the tear in the vessel is not severe, the bleeding might present as weakness or numbness in the lower limbs after the operation. This is known as the pressure, or compression, effect. Because the vertebral canal is a closed space, a blood clot would compress the nerves adjacent to it, causing neurological manifestations.
Recurrence of Disc Herniation
According to the North American Spine Society, the risk of recurrence of disc herniation is anywhere between 5 and 10 percent. The North American Spine Society reports that the success in symptom alleviation of open discectomy, of which microdiscectomy is a subtype, is 80 to 90 percent.
