Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy, also called Non-Traumatic Discectomy, is a sort of surgical procedure where the portion of herniated or extruded disc that is putting pressure on the nerve root and causing pain is removed.

Compared to standard discectomy where a little bit of bone is removed to reach the offending disc, this is a far less invasive surgery. It can be done in the outpatient room, under local anesthesia, and can be over in an hour!

First the anesthetic is injected into the surrounding muscle tissue, not the spine. Then a small X-ray and video guided endoscopic probe is inserted through the skin of the back, between the vertebrae and into the disc. This is followed by a tube through which microsurgical attachments are inserted. These are used to remove and suck out pieces of nucleus and other disc material from the damaged disc through a tiny opening made in the disc itself.

Once the procedure is over, the probe is retracted and the small incision is covered with just an adhesive bandage. No stitches are required as the hole is little bigger than a pimple. X ray exposure too is minimal.