A discectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove a portion of a herniated or damaged disc in the spine. It is typically done to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves caused by the herniated disc, which can lead to symptoms such as pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, legs, or arms. During the procedure, the surgeon accesses the spine through an incision in the back and removes the portion of the disc that is pressing on the nerves. This helps alleviate symptoms and allows the nerves to function normally again. Discectomy can be performed using different techniques, including traditional open surgery or minimally invasive approaches such as microdiscectomy or endoscopic discectomy.