[Radical approach in lumbar intervertebral disk operations]

A study of a postmortem preparation of a surgical model of lumbar discectomy serves as basis for discussing whether radical "clearing out" of the intervertebral space is at all possible or meaningful. The degree of radicality depends upon the extent of degeneration of the disc, involving a more or less extensive resection of the anulus fibrosus. The weak point of the operative procedure is mostly the dorsomediolateral area contralateral to the site of the approach.