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The procedure may be performed in the operating room or special procedures room at the hospital. The Endoscopic discectomy procedure usually is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, consisting of an injection of anesthetic in the muscle (not a spinal block).
After administering local anesthesia, the doctor inserts a small guide probe into the disc using x-ray control. Over the probe, a slightly larger tube is inserted down to the annulus and a 1/8 inch opening is made into the disc itself. The Nucleotome probe is then inserted through the tube and into the disc. The Nucleotome probe is used to remove small pieces of the nucleus and suction them out of the disc. The procedure takes 45 minutes to an hour. You will normally feel little, if any, pain or discomfort.
The amount of nucleus tissue removed varies, but the supporting structure of the disc is not affected by the surgery. Upon completion of the procedure, the Nucleotome probe is removed and the puncture site, the size of a freckle, is covered by a small adhesive bandage. There are no stitches.
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