Methods for percutaneous discectomy

Minimally invasive discectomy techniques are commonly employed by interventional chronic pain physicians to either remove herniated discs, or to alter the disc itself to relieve the pain and pressure it may be causing on nearby neuronal structures. Various techniques are employed that use mechanical, ablation, and laser to remove and alter the disc. Importantly discectomy has been shown to result in faster relief of symptoms than conservative medical management. In this chapter, we explore the indications, clinical applications, technical approaches, and complications for minimally invasive discectomy techniques for the treatment of disc herniations and disc pain caused by disc herniations.