What is Disectomy

Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 24 bones (vertebrae), like a tower of hollow bricks held together by rubbery plates called discs. This arrangement helps you to bend your back. The central part of a disc is soft. This part has slipped out of place and is pressing on one of the nerves in your back. This makes you feel pain as if it is coming from your leg (sciatica). You may also have weakness in part of your leg. You may also have had, and still have, some back pain.

The Operation

You will have a general anaesthetic, and will be asleep for the whole operation. A cut is made down to your backbone about three inches long, in your lower back. The soft part of the damaged disc is removed. This takes the pressure off the nerve in your back. The firm outer rim of the disc is not removed. The skin wound is then closed up with stitches or clips. You will be in hospital for one to three days after the operation.