What is Lumbar and Cervical Hernia?
Lumbar and cervical herniated discs (intervertebral discs) slip out of place or rupture, causing pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This pressure can cause pain, numbness, tingling, weakness and restricted movement. A herniated disc is usually caused by slipped discs in the lumbar region (lumbar region), while a cervical herniated disc is caused by slipped discs in the neck region (cervical region). In both cases, pressure on the nerve roots can seriously affect the patient’s quality of life.
Herniated discs can usually be treated with conservative methods such as physical therapy, medication and epidural injections. However, surgical intervention may be required in cases that do not respond to conservative treatments and impair the patient’s quality of life. While traditional surgical methods usually require a larger incision and recovery period, minimally invasive surgical techniques offer advantages with faster recovery and less pain.
What are Minimally Invasive Interventions?
Minimally invasive surgery is a treatment method with smaller incisions and a faster healing process. In this type of surgery, microscopes, special surgical instruments and endoscopic techniques are usually used. Minimally invasive interventions in lumbar and cervical hernias ensure that the patient experiences less trauma, the pain is less and patients can return to their normal lives in a shorter time.
How are Minimally Invasive Interventions Performed in Lumbar and Cervical Hernias?
Minimally invasive treatment methods are alternative approaches that require patients to be treated surgically but do not require large incisions. These procedures are usually performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Minimally invasive methods used for lumbar and cervical herniated discs are as follows:
- Microdiscectomy:
- Microdiscectomy is the process of shrinking discs or removing the herniated portion. A minimally invasive technique, microdiscectomy is performed through a smaller incision. Using a microscope, the surgeon treats the herniated disc or pinched nerves. With this method, patients recover faster and can return to their normal life more quickly.
- Endoscopic Discectomy:
- Endoscopic discectomy is the removal of a herniated disc through a small hole. This method is especially used in the treatment of lumbar and cervical herniated discs. The herniated area is visually monitored through an endoscope and the disc area is accessed. Since endoscopic discectomy is performed through smaller incisions, it has a faster recovery and less risk of complications.
- Laser Disc Injection:
- Laser disc treatment is the process of shrinking herniated discs with laser energy and relieving pressure on pinched nerves. This method is usually performed under local anesthesia and provides recovery with less pain.
- Percutaneous Nucleoplasty (PN):
- In this minimally invasive treatment, a needle is used to access the interior of the disc and reduce its volume with laser energy or other techniques. Percutaneous nucleoplasty is a particularly favored technique in the treatment of herniated discs and helps patients recover quickly.
- Spinal Code Injection (Epidural Steroid Injections):
- Epidural steroid injections can be given to reduce inflammation from the herniated disc. This procedure is minimally invasive and is often used to relieve the patient’s symptoms and control pain without the need for surgery.
Advantages of Minimally Invasive Interventions:
- Less Pain: The smaller the incision size, the less painful the healing process.
- Shorter Hospitalization: After minimally invasive interventions, patients are discharged from the hospital much sooner than with conventional surgery.
- Fast Recovery: Surgical procedures performed through small incisions accelerate the healing process and patients can return to work and social life more quickly.
- Reduced Risk of Complications: In minimally invasive surgeries, infection, bleeding and other surgical complications are less common.
- Aesthetic Advantage: Small incision scars remain, which reduces patients’ aesthetic concerns.
Why Metropol Health Group?
Metropol Health Group provides services in spinal disorders such as lumbar and cervical herniated discs with its expert staff with experience in minimally invasive surgery, state-of-the-art surgical instruments and modern treatment methods. Each patient is specially evaluated according to their individual needs and the most appropriate treatment plan is created. Thanks to advanced surgical techniques, patients get rid of their pain in a shorter time and return to their normal lives.
