Percutaneous Intervertebral Foraminotomy for Nucleus Pulposus Removal

Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy (PTED) is performed with a lighted tube, which enters the intervertebral foramen from either the side or the side and back of the patient’s body (in a horizontal or angled fashion) and performs the procedure in a safe working triangle. Surgery is performed outside the fibrous annulus of the intervertebral disc, where the protruding nucleus pulposus, nerve roots, dural sac, and proliferating bone tissue can be clearly visualized under direct endoscopic vision. Then, various types of grasping forceps are used to remove the protruding tissues, microscopic bone removal, and radiofrequency electrodes are used to repair the damaged annulus fibrosus. Surgical trauma is small, the skin incision is only about 7mm, like the size of a soybean grain, the bleeding is about 20ml, and only 1 to 2 stitches are needed after surgery. It is the minimally invasive treatment for herniated disc with the least trauma to the patient and the best effect among similar surgeries, which is also the development trend of minimally invasive spinal surgery.