Intervertebral Diskectomy Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have intervertebral diskectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Nerve damage
• Bladder or bowel incontinence
• Leakage of spinal fluid
• Another herniated disk (may happen within the first three months after surgery)

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Chronic conditions (eg, diabetes )
• Prior spine surgeries
• Advanced age
• Smoking

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the surgery.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site
• Numbness or tingling
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or bleeding in the urine
• Cough, shortness of breath or chest pain
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.