Topographic anatomy of the lumbar lateral vertebral groove. Anatomical basis of the surgical approach to extra foraminal herniated disc.

The study of numerous dissections, sections and X-rays of the lumbar spine has enabled us to clarify the connections of the lumbar spinal nerves at their emergence from the intervertebral foramen and in the lateral vertebral groove. This work naturally leads to the study of the extra foraminal herniated disc by an extra isthmian approach or to percutaneous surgery of thoracolumbar discs.