Nucleotomy
Nucleotomy
Nucleotomy (pronounced: noo-klee-OT-uh-mee) is a surgical procedure performed to relieve back pain caused by herniated discs. The term is derived from the Latin words 'nucleus', meaning 'center', and 'tomy', meaning 'cutting'.
Procedure
During a nucleotomy, the surgeon removes part or all of the herniated disc material that is pressing on the spinal nerves or spinal cord. This procedure is typically performed when conservative treatments such as physical therapy and medication have failed to alleviate the patient's symptoms.
Types of Nucleotomy
There are two main types of nucleotomy procedures: open nucleotomy and percutaneous nucleotomy.
- Open Nucleotomy - This is a traditional surgical procedure in which the surgeon makes an incision in the back to access the herniated disc. The disc material is then removed using surgical instruments.
- Percutaneous Nucleotomy - This is a minimally invasive procedure in which the surgeon uses a needle and a special tool to remove the herniated disc material. This procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia and requires a smaller incicision than an open nucleotomy.
Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with nucleotomy. These may include infection, bleeding, nerve damage, and recurrence of disc herniation. It is important for patients to discuss these risks with their surgeon before deciding to undergo a nucleotomy.
Related Terms
- Disc Herniation - A condition in which the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through a crack in the tougher exterior casing.
- Spinal Nerves - The nerves that emerge from the spinal cord and branch out to the rest of the body.
- Spinal Cord - The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies within the vertebral canal and from which the spinal nerves emerge.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nucleotomy
- Wikipedia's article - Nucleotomy
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski