Open Laser Thoracic Microdiscectomy is surgery that removes part of a disc in the spine that separates the vertebrae, a spinal column disc. The surgery is usually required to treat two different problems. Firstly, a prolapsed or herniated intervertebral disc which occurs due to high pressure causing a spinal disc to bulge out from between two vertebrae resulting in spinal canal compression. This condition causes back pain, weakening of muscles in the leg and loss of sensation in the leg and foot. The surgery is also used to treat a condition called spinal stenosis, which is narrowing of the spinal canal causing lower back pain and leg pain. The procedure requires the patient to receive a local anesthetic and lasts between 1 to 2 hours. The surgery should help to alleviate the symptoms and preserve tissue.