Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Approaching Far Lateral Disc Herniations: The MIS Perspective

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Resident's Guide to Spine Surgery

  • 1012 Accesses

Abstract

Lumbar disc disease is a common pathology seen by spine surgeons. Far lateral disc herniations represent a rare cause of lumbar disc compression syndromes. Patients often present with a severe pain, numbness, and sometimes weakness. Various conservative treatment modalities are available. As compared with traditional open techniques, minimally invasive approaches can better treat the pathology while minimizing collateral damage. This chapter reviews the presentation of far lateral disc herniations and emphasizes the surgical nuances to the minimally invasive approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Abdullah AF, Ditto EW III, Byrd EB, Williams R. Extreme lateral lumbar disc herniations: clinical syndrome and special problems of diagnosis. J Neurosurg. 1974;41:229.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Abdullah AF, Wolber PG, Warfield JR, Gunadi IK. Surgical management of extreme lateral lumbar disc herniations: review of 138 cases. Neurosurgery. 1988;22:648.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Donaldson WF III, Star MJ, Thorne RP. Surgical treatment for the far lateral herniated lumbar disc. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1993;18:1263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Epstein NE. Evaluation of varied surgical approaches used in the management of 170 far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: indications and results. J Neurosurg. 1995;83:648.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Garrido E, Connaughton PN. Unilateral facetectomy approach for lateral lumbar disc herniation. J Neurosurg. 1991;74:754.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hazlett JW, Kinnard P. Lumbar apophyseal process excision and spinal instability. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1982;7:171.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hood RS. Far lateral lumbar disc herniations. Neurosurg Clin North Am. 1993;4:117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jane JA, Haworth CS, Broaddus WC, et al. A neurosurgical approach to far-lateral disc herniation: technical note. J Neurosurg. 1990;72:143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lejeune JP, Hladky JP, Cotten A, et al. Foraminal lumbar disc herniation: experience with 83 patients. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1994;19:1905.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Maroon JC, Kopitnik TA, Schulhof LAA, et al. Diagnosis and microsurgical approach to far-lateral disc herniation in the lumbar spine. J Neurosurg. 1990;72:378.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Schlesinger SM, Fankhauser H, de Tribolet N. Microsurgical anatomy and operative technique for extreme lateral lumbar disc herniations. Acta Neurochir. 1992;118:117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Pirris SM, Dhall S, Mummaneni PV, Kanter AS. Minimally invasive approach to extraforaminal disc herniations at the lumbosacral junction using an operating microscope: case series and review of the literature. Neurosurg Focus. 2008;25(1).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Siebner HR, Faulhauer K. Frequency and specific surgical management of far lateral lumbar disc herniations. Acta Neurochir. 1990;105:124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Tessitore E, de Tribolet N. Far-lateral lumbar disc herniation: the microsurgical transmuscular approach. Neurosurgery. 2004;54.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Porchet F, Chollet-Bornand A, de Tribolet N. Long-term follow up of patients surgically treated by the far-lateral approach for foraminal and extraforaminal lumbar disc herniations. J Neurosurg. 1999;90:59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Eichholz KM, Hitchon PW. Far lateral lumbar disc herniation. Contemp Neurosurg. 2003;25:1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Darden BV, Wade JF, Alexander R, et al. Far lateral disc herniations treated by microscopic fragment excision. Techniques and results. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Foley KT, Smith MM, Rampersaud YR. Microendoscopic approach to far-lateral lumbar disc herniation. Neurosurg Focus. 1999;7:E5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Epstein NE, Epstein JA, Carras R, Hyman R. Far lateral lumbar disc herniations and associated structural abnormalities: an evaluation in 60 patients of the comparative value of CT, MRI, and Myelo-CT in diagnosis and management. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1990;15:534.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Lanzino G, Shaffrey CI, Jane JA, Surgical treatment of lateral lumbar herniated discs, Rengachary SS, Wilkins RH. Neurosurgical operative atlas. Park Ridge: American Association of Neurological Surgeons; 1999. p. 243.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kornberg M. Extreme lateral lumbar disc herniations: clinical syndrome and computed tomography recognition. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1987;12:586.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Epstein NE. Different surgical approaches to far lateral lumbar disc herniations. J Spinal Disord. 1995;8:383–94.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Epstein NE. Foraminal and far lateral lumbar disc herniations: surgical alternatives and outcome measures. Spinal Cord. 2002;40:491–500.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. O’Toole. Minimally invasive far lateral microendoscopic discectomy for extraforaminal disc herniation at the lumbosacral junction: cadveric dissection and technical case report. Spine J. 2007;7:414–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Voyadzis JM. Minimally invasvie approach for far lateral disc herniations: results from 20 patients. Minim Invasive Neurosurg. 2010;53:122–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Kyle Mueller & Amjad Anaizi

Authors
  1. Kyle Mueller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amjad Anaizi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Washington Spine & Scoliosis, Institute at OrthoBethesda, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Joseph R. O'Brien

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    S. Bobby Kalantar

  3. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima, WA, USA

    Doniel Drazin

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Faheem A. Sandhu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Mueller, K., Anaizi, A. (2020). Approaching Far Lateral Disc Herniations: The MIS Perspective. In: O'Brien, J., Kalantar, S., Drazin, D., Sandhu, F. (eds) The Resident's Guide to Spine Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20847-9_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20847-9_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-20846-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-20847-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation