Patient: My mother is fifty-five years old. In February this year, the lumbar spine mR showed L3/4; L4/5, L5/S1 disc herniation. After the minimally invasive procedure, there was no leg numbness or leg pain, but the pain started in the right hip and hip area. What happened? Is it because the minimally invasive surgery was not done properly? What should I do if I still have pain in my right hip and buttock? Jin Daxiang, Department of Orthopedics of the Spine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Minimally invasive spine surgery must be carried out with the following factors in mind: 1. Does the surgeon have experience in traditional open spine surgery? 2. Does the surgeon have formal training in minimally invasive spine surgery? 3. Does the medical institution have the necessary instruments to perform minimally invasive spine surgery? 4. Is the patient’s own spine disease suitable for minimally invasive surgery? Generally speaking, the pathological mechanism of degenerative lumbar spine disease is complex and must be evaluated based on the patient’s symptoms and signs, combined with lumbar spine dynamic photographs, MRI and CT reconstruction, etc. Is there any lumbar instability? In addition to disc herniation, is there hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum? Is there any small joint hyperplasia, etc.? This will make a big difference in the formulation of minimally invasive surgery plan. And the available minimally invasive instruments and their techniques are not suitable for all patients! Minimally invasive spine techniques do not completely replace traditional spine surgery. And the surgeon who performs minimally invasive spine techniques must have a good experience and surgical foundation in open spine surgery. If the so-called minimally invasive surgery is pursued without regard to objective circumstances, the safety of the surgery and the desired surgical outcome may not be achieved. Not quite sure what your mother’s condition was prior to surgery, it is difficult to provide precise advice, just for reference!