Lumbar Surgery Potential Risk

Dear Ask The Doctor: What are the risks of lower back surgery and removal of a disc. and is there any damage to muscles etc. when surgery is done

Dear Mike: As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved in removal of a disc from the lower back (Lumbar Discectomy). The potential complications vary somewhat depending on the surgical technique employed to remove the disc. The following are some of the common complications:

• Intraoperative bleeding
• Infections
• Leg pain and numbness
• Persistent symptoms

Though these complications are possible, they do not occur in every patient. In fact, the complication rate for lumbar discectomy is only 2-4%. Significant damage to muscles does not occur in this procedure.