NASS-recommended insurance coverage criteria for lumbar microdiscectomy.
| Criterion | Detail |
| Lumbar radiculopathy | Symptoms last at least 6 wk |
| Lesion present on advanced imaging | Lesion location and characteristics must show correlation with patient’s symptoms |
| 4 wk of nonsurgical management | Patient must engage in at least one of the following: physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, flouroscopic-guided epidural steroid injections |
Abbreviation: NASS, North American Spine Society.
Note: NASS recommendations for lumbar discectomy: urgent and emergent criteria, including cauda equina syndrome, progressive neurological deficit, tumor, and infection are exempt from the above criteria.