• With traumatic injury, or conditions that cause a disc to lose its normal shape, the “gel” in the center of the disc is squeezed like the jelly in the center of a donut.
• As such, the jelly (“nucleus”) in the center of the disc is held firmly in position by strong fibers in the shape of a ring that help to maintain the disc in its normal position (the “annulus” or ring).
• The ring can have a laxity or looseness where the natural ‘firmness” of the disc can be lost- similar to sagging of a face with aging.
• The ring can have a partial or complete tear- leading to the jelly pushing on the nerve in the spine- Disc Herniation.
• With the eDisc Sculpt technique, a small microscope or endoscope is inserted through a small cut in the back
• With the microscope the sagging disc or torn disc is seen in a very magnified view.
• Specialized instruments such as small graspers, drill or nerve hooks are then used through the microscope to carefully sculpt the disc, similar to what a plastic surgeon does to sculpt the face during a facelift.
• Only damaged disc jelly material is removed, leaving healthy disc tissue in place
• Finally, either a laser or a cooled radiofrequency probe is used to “tighten” the loose disc to regain the natural “firmness” of a normal disc.

ADVANTAGES of eDiscSculpt Technique:

• Outpatient procedure.
• Back muscles are not cut thus maintaining core stability
• No metal is inserted
• Multiple levels can be treated.
• All levels of the spine can be treated.
• Use of the laser can destroy nerve endings that are known to cause pain