My Spine - Lumbar
Images used with permission from Medtronic
Figure 22.2
These drawings demonstrate the way your specialist will find the middle of
the disc that is being removed. An instrument like this one is used in conjunc-
tion with an X-ray machine. It is of critical importance that the middle is
accurately marked as the prosthesis will only function correctly if it is placed
in the midline.
After the middle has been marked, the whole disc is removed up to the col-
umn of nerves in the spinal canal and care is taken to make sure that these
nerves are not being compressed and also that these nerves are not damaged
during the procedure. The nerves that go down to the leg are located at the
side of the disc (arrow). This is frequently where these nerves are compressed
by a disc fragment.
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