Print out instructions for spine surgery below.

MICRODISCECTOMY

Most likely, the pain in your back or legs, or both, ultimately led you to seek help. You have been diagnosed as having a herniated lumbar disk and require lumbar microdiscectomy. Disks are the shock-absorbing cushions between the lumbar vertebrae of your spinal column. These disks can herniate for a variety of reasons, including age, stress, strain and sudden impact.

Herniation of the disk, as pictured to the right, results in the soft inner contents of the disk pushing through the fibrous outer wall and pressing, against the nerves that run parallel to the spinal column. Even slight movement can cause the nerve to be irritated and thus cause pain, numbness and weakness in the leg and foot. The lumbar microdiscectomy procedure is designed to remove this herniated material from the nerves and relieve your symptoms.  The procedure is done through a small incision in the low back, and your surgeon will use a minimally invasive approach.  It also can be done through a small tube.  The herniated material is removed to alleviate the pressure from the nerves.  Most likely, you will return to the many activities you enjoyed before your back problems occurred.

Testing before your Surgery

· On the day of your office visit, you will receive a prescription for pre-surgical testing to detect any abnormalities. These tests can be done up to one month prior to your surgery date. The results must be reviewed by the neurosurgeon's office no later than three working days before your surgery date. The prescription allows Passavant Hospital or any certified laboratory approved by your insurance company, to do the tests and forward the results to the neurosurgeon's office for review.

· You will also receive a medical clearance form to be completed by your primary care physician.  This form should be completed no more than thirty (30) days prior to your surgery and faxed to our office at 412-630-7644.

· If you see any medical specialists, such as a cardiologist or endocrinologist, please notify our office.  Sometimes it is necessary for these physicians to provide clearance prior to your operation.

∙ If you need pain medications or have any questions before your surgery, please contact our office at 1-877-635-5234.

The Procedure and its Benefits

Microdiscectomy takes about one to two hours to perform. Your incision will be about 1 to 2 inches long on the mid-low back area. Generally, you will be walking the day of surgery and can be discharged the day after your operation. Please arrange your transportation home in advance.

The risks involved with this type of surgery are: Infection, excess bleeding, damage to dural nerve root, bladder and bowel dysfunction, cerebrospinal fluid leak, no relief of symptoms, excess scarring, increased neurological dysfunction, anesthetic complications, complications related to hospital stay and/or positioning, intra-abdominal injury, vascular injury and/or death.

After surgery, minor discomfort from your incision is common but temporary. This can be relieved with mild pain medication. Following the procedure, you may experience persistent numbness, weakness and pain along the path of the nerve that was decompressed, but these symptoms are generally temporary and gradually go away.

Members of the health-care team

You will meet a number of health professionals during this time. Their goal is to help you recover and return you to your prior activities. A brief description of each of these professionals follows:

Neurosurgeon. You have already met this person, who will perform the surgery and direct your care afterward. Please feel comfortable asking questions of your surgeon - communication is an essential key toward recovery.

Nurse. A nurse will obtain information and assess your condition both in the surgeon's office and in the hospital. The office nurse will evaluate you before you see the surgeon and again with the surgeon at the time of your visit. The office nurse will help explain the procedure, answer questions and arrange your surgery. The hospital nurse will assess you in the hospital, and help you before, during and after your surgery. The nurse also will answer questions from you and your family.

Physician assistant. The physician assistant (PA) has been trained to perform many tasks done by a physician. The PA may perform your history and physical examination and review the surgical procedure. The PA can answer questions and will follow you in the hospital after surgery, along with your physician. The PA will review your discharge instructions on the day after your procedure and facilitate your discharge planning.

The day of surgery

One to two days prior to surgery you will be contacted by a nurse in the surgical department at Passavant hospital, who will review your health and medication history. If you have not received a call by 3:00 pm, the day before your surgery, please call 412-367-6567. Please be prepared and have a list of questions and your medications by the phone.  The nurse will tell you what time you need to arrive at the hospital for your operation.

You will be thinking of many things on the day of your surgery, and it is only natural to be overwhelmed and possibly confused about what to do. This information and other information provided can help you become familiar with the process involved with your hospitalization and surgery. We hope that these help to answer your questions and reassure you about your procedure.

Arrival at Passavant Hospital

Plan to arrive at Passavant Hospital on the first floor and take the main elevators to the second floor

· Eating or drinking after midnight the night before surgery is NOT permitted unless otherwise instructed.

· You will be visited by a nurse and/or PA, who will perform a preoperative assessment.

· Results from your laboratory work will be reviewed again.

· If you have a family doctor clearance letter, it will be collected.

· You will meet with the anesthesiologist who will review the risks of general anesthesia and answer your questions about the anesthetic.

· Your back will be scrubbed by the nurse in preparation for surgery.

· An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted, and you will be given antibiotics and fluids.

Operating Room

Located on the Second floor

· You will meet with a nurse and nurse anesthetist who will take you back to the operating room.

· You will be asked to review your name, date of birth and procedure outside of the operating room and again when you enter the operating room.

· You will be in surgery for about one to two hours.

· After surgery, you will be taken to the Recovery Room.

Recovery Room

Outside Operating Room

· Your vital signs will be checked frequently, the surgical dressing will be checked and your symptoms will be assessed.

· You may receive pain medication.

· Your IV fluids will continue.

· You will not be allowed to eat or drink.

· An anesthesiologist will discharge you from the Recovery Room after you are completely awake, which usually takes one to two hours.

· You then will be taken to the Patient Unit located in Passavant Hospital

· Your family will be informed as to which Unit you will go to.

Patient Unit

Passavant Hospital

· The nursing staff will assess you on arrival to the floor and monitor your progress.

· Your IV line will be removed after you drink fluids.

· You will be asked to take deep breaths to prevent pneumonia and do ankle and calf exercises to prevent blood clot complications. Pain medications are available; you should ask for this if you need it.

· You will be assisted out of bed the first time you get up. Then, you are encouraged to walk on your own in your room and the halls. You may see physical and occupational therapy, and they will help you with walking.

· The PA will remove the operative dressing the morning after surgery

Discharge

· Patients who have had lumbar microdiscectomy are typically discharged the day after surgery. Your nurse and PA will discuss your discharge instructions. Please prepare questions to ask at this time.

· You will be given a discharge instruction sheet that will include restrictions, activities, physical therapy, medications and care of the incision.

· Remember to arrange your transportation home prior to this day. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home. If you anticipate a problem with your travel arrangements, please notify the staff the day of surgery. The discharge time is before 11 am.

Discharge Instructions

· A follow-up appointment will be given to you on your day of discharge.  If the time or location is not convenient, please call 1-877-635-5234 to reschedule.

· Until you are seen in follow-up, you should limit your activities.  You may walk as much as you would like.  However, you should avoid lifting more than five pounds, bending at the waist, twisting or sitting for more than 30 minutes. 

· You may not drive until you are seen in follow-up.

· The dressing should be changed daily with dry gauze and tape.  You will be given supplies when you are discharged. 

· You will be given prescriptions for a pain medication, muscle relaxant and antibiotic.  Take these medications as instructed.  Make sure to ask questions at your discharge time.

· You should call our office immediately if you experience any of the following:  fevers, chills, night sweats, swelling at the incision, redness or drainage from the incision, new weakness or pain in your arms or legs.

∙ After your operation, if you have any questions regarding your incision or symptoms that you may be experiencing, please contact our office at 1-877-635-5234.

If you have specific questions that are not addressed in these materials, please call your neurosurgeon 1-877-635-5234.

DISCLAIMER: Every effort has been made by the author(s) to provide accurate, up-to-date information. However, the medical knowledge base is dynamic and errors can occur. By using the information contained herein, the viewer willingly assumes all risks in connection with such use. Neither the author nor UPMC shall be held responsible for errors, omissions in information herein nor liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damages resulting, in whole or in part, from any viewer(s)' use of, or reliance upon, this material.

CLINICAL DISCLAIMER:  Clinical information is provided for educational purposes and not as a medical or professional service. Person(s) who are not medical professionals should have clinical information reviewed and interpreted or applied only by the appropriate health professional(s).

© 2008 Tri-State Neurosurgical Associates - UPMC

Last Updated: May 8, 2008