PROLAPSED
INTERVERTEBRAL

Prolapsed disc or slipped disc implicates that a portion of disc ( the means a part of disc usually nucleus pulposus which is a soft gelatinous material ) comes out of the disc through a tear in the outer capsule of disc also called as annular tear. The chemical which comes out of the disc (nucleus pulposus) irritates the nerve root which causes radical are pain or leg pain.

Slipped disc is caused by a variety of factors. Obesity, smoking, driving for long, vibratory activities, sudden lifting of heavy objects all of these activities can cause slipped disc. In many cases no cause can be appreciated.

85 to 90 % of patients don’t need surgery for disc prolapse. Most of the cases can be treated with conservative treatment in the form of medications and nerve root blocks.

Patients who have failed on conservative treatment for more than 6 weeks is a relative indication for surgery. If the patient develops neurological deficit or weakness in legs or develop bladder bowel issues those are also indications for surgery.

Microdiscectomy is ideal or gold standard for disc prolapse.

Most of the patients are discharged next day after surgery.

Complications are very rare after disc surgery. Most common complication is dural tear. If dural tear occurs then patient will need to stay in hospital for further 3 days. Chances of neural deficit is very rare( 1 in 1000). If neural deficit develops it is mostly temporary and recovers over a period of time.