Lumbar Disc Disease Surgery: Understanding Your Options

Lumbar disc disease can refer to any disease that affects the spinal column in the lumbar (lower back) region. They can include degenerative disorders, a disruption of an intervertebral disc or structural instability of some segment of the spinal column.

Fusion Surgery

• Fusion surgery uses devices such as screws and rods to fix adjacent segments so they are fixed in place with respect to each other. The primary objective of this surgery is to stop a painful motion of the spine.

One-level Fusion

• Surgery that only fuses one adjacent pair of segments is the most common type of fusion. The loss in the range of motion depends greatly on the segmental pair being fused.

Two-level Fusion

• Fusions of three vertebral segments are rare and are normally considered only for patients in severe pain.

Discectomy

• A discectomy is the partial or total removal of a herniated disc and is normally considered only when conservative treatment has failed to heal the disc.

Artificial Disc Replacement

• The replacement of a herniated disc is a more recent surgical option and the long term effects are relatively unknown.