[Surgical treatment of radicular pain using minimally invasive techniques]

Radicular pain can be caused by disc herniation, lateral stenosis, isthmic spondylolisthesis with foraminal stenosis, or foraminal encroachment due to asymmetrical disc degeneration or scoliosis. Surgery is indicated following failure of conservative treatment. Minimally invasive discectomy is indicated for subjects presenting with radicular pain with or without neurological deficit and appropriate sized herniation in MRI. It offers equivalent efficacy but quicker recovery than microdiscectomy. Minimally invasive fusion is indicated for radicular pain due to foraminal compression in isthmic spondylolisthesis, asymmetric disc degeneration or scoliosis. It allows decrease in blood loss and postoperative pain. A less invasive technique should nevertheless not replace properly conducted conservative treatment.