A ① guide wire is placed in the disc, a ② dilator is placed along it, and an 8 mm ③ trocar is placed over it.
This completes the surgical preparation. An endoscope ④ is placed inside ③ and then forceps and drills ⑤ are placed inside it to approach the herniation, vertebral arch, and ligaments.
The surgery takes approximately one hour. Because of the minimally invasive procedure, most patients are able to walk home about 3 hours after the surgery.