Lumbar disc herniation: microsurgical approach.

Lumbar microdiscectomy IS an effective and time-tested neurosurgical procedure. Appropriate patient selection is as important as surgical technique in ensuring good outcome. As with any operation, mastery of the relevant anatomy is paramount. We offer the following illustrations to help surgeons appreciate this anatomy: specifically, the relationship between the interspace, the nerve root, and the pedicle as seen during a microdiscectomy.