World Neurosurg
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Cervical disk protrusion is a common pathology. Anterior diskectomy and fusion is considered the gold standard of treatment, although anterior arthroplasty has gained some acceptance in the past decade as an alternative. Posterior cervical minimally invasive diskectomy is a rarely used technique, and there is less literature discussing this procedure. ⋯ A 5-mm smooth diamond drill is used to perform a foraminotomy. To avoid nerve root or spinal cord manipulation, it is often necessary to remove some of the rostral aspect of the inferior pedicle to gain access to the axilla and disk protrusion. The procedure is rapid, well tolerated, and performed as outpatient, and it results in a rapid return to normal activity.