A Randomized Trial Comparing SpineJet® Hydrodiscectomy to Open Lumbar Microdiscectomy for Treatment of Lumbar Radiculopathy Due to Disc Herniation

The purpose of this study is to compare a standard surgical procedure, open surgical microdiscectomy, used primarily to relieve leg pain and repair disc herniation to a newer surgical procedure, hydrodiscectomy with Spinejet®. The study will examine how well each procedure reduces subject pain and disability over a one-year period. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-use of a magnetic field to produce an image) of the lower spinal column taken before and after surgery will also be looked at to determine what physical changes have taken place over the course of a year. Subjects enrolled in this study will also be asked to keep track of their medical expenses related to treating their back pain to see if the surgeries being compared reduce out of pocket expenses.