Some of the muscle overlying the bone which forms the back of the spinal canal, called the lamina, is separated off the bone. A small window is drilled in the laminae overlying the disc herniation. The nerve root is identified and gently retracted away to expose the offending disc herniation. The disc material is then removed and the wound is closed in a way which restores the normal anatomic layers. At UCLA this operation is commonly performed with the aid of the operating microscope, and is known as a microdiscectomy.
Postoperative recovery is relatively short.
Patients are up walking the same night or the next morning and discharged home in 1 to 3 days. The vast majority of patients experience permanent relief of pain. Recovery of motor function is variable.