L4-5 Discectomy and Fusion - Medical Illustration, Human Anatomy Drawing
This stock medical exhibit shows a lumbar disc injury with an L4-5 surgical diskectomy and fusion procedure. The first illustration shows a sagittal view of the pre-operative condition of the lumbar spine. In it, an L4-5 intervertebral disc herniation is seen impinging on the cauda equina of the spinal cord. Also depicted is spondylosis of the L5 vertebral body. The second illustration shows the first step of the surgical procedure. A posterior view of the lower back of a caucasian figure is depicted. In it, a large incision is made on the lower back over the area of injury. The third illustration shows removal of portions of the laminae and the herniated disc material. The nerve roots are decompressed. The fourth illustration shows the bilateral insertion of two bone cages into the disc space. The fifth illustration shows a lateral view of the lumbar spine. In it, the fusion site is packed with bone graft material around the bone cage to complete the final fusion.
