The METRx® System's Use in Minimal Access Spinal Technologies
The minimally invasive revolution has impacted virtually every surgical field. In the case of lumbar discectomy, the primary objective is to decompress the affected nerve root. The compressed nerve must be left fully decompressed and freely mobile. This may require extensive bony decompression, nerve root manipulation, and/or removal of herniated nucleus pulposus.
The objective of the METRx® System is the same as conventional open surgery—to decompress the nerve root. This is accomplished by applying open surgical techniques through a tubular retractor under microsurgery visualization. For the first time, a laminotomy, medial facetectomy, foraminotomy, nerve root retraction and discectomy can be performed in a less invasive way. In so doing, the METRx® System combines the reliability of conventional open surgery with the advantages of a minimally invasive technique.
The advantage of the METRx® System over the traditional open surgery is that now a surgeon can perform this type of discectomy surgery with a special type of muscle splitting technique that minimizes the amount of muscle damage that is necessary in order to be able to see where the herniated disc is located and safely remove the herniated fragments while protecting the nerve roots and spinal cord.
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It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications, and benefits of the METRx® System with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your physician's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
