Often the desired enlargement of the spinal canal and decompression of the pinched nerves is possible only with a surgical removal of protruding osteophytes. This used to be a complex surgery on the open spinal canal in the past where great parts of the vertebral arches and joints were removed (laminectomy). Modern minimally invasive techniques today allow for a very tissue-preserving intervention as nerves and blood vessels running through the spinal canal remain unhurt. With the aid of a surgical microscope greatly enlarging the operating field a removal of the narrowing structures to the nearest millimeter is feasible. 

Under certain circumstances the dorsal cervical microforaminotomy may be an option to treat a herniated disk of the cervical spine. This may obviate the insertion of an artificial disk replacement or a stiffening surgery.

It is possible in cases where the disk material bulges laterally or if a narrowing of a foramen is present only on one side.

Endoscopic surgery has proved of value not only for discectomy but also for many other back problems. With this minimally invasive technique all kinds of herniated disks may be removed in a very tissue-preserving way. It may help also with chronic back problems that result from disk protrusions or tears.