Facetectomy

Abstract

Minimally invasive lumbar tubular facetectomy can be regarded as a variant of the microdiscectomy that applies to the L3-4 and L2-3 levels, where the narrow shape of the lamina and pars interarticularis forces the surgeon to remove the medial facet in order to access the disc. The L1-2 level can also be approached this way if the disc herniation is not central, since the conus medullaris typically ends at this level and therefore manipulation of the spinal sac must be minimized. This technique can also be used to remove foreign bodies, such as bullets or bone fragments.