How is a diskectomy different from a spinal fusion? what's the difference between a diskectomy and a spinal fusion? is one better than the other for back pain relief?

Discectomy : Discectomy is the removal of disk. Usually only small amount of disk which has leaked out of the disk space and is pinching a nerve is removed. Discectomy is done primarily for sciatica leg pain not for back pain. Recently surgeons have had success with endoscopic discectomy for treatment of back pan caused by degenerative disk disease with a rip in the disk (radial tear). Fusion surgery most of the disk is removed and cage/bone is put into the disk space. The vertebral bodies are held together with screws and rods. Over time the upper vertebral body fuse across the disk space to lower vertebral body forming "one big bone". Fusion surgery is the standard surgery for back pain. In the future endoscopic discectomy may replace fusion surgery for initial treatment of back pain from degenerative disk disease. Please see my health guides on endoscopic discectomy. Good luck!

Different Goals: Ina discectomy you just remove the herniated disc fragment. With a fusion you lock the bones together by laying down bone graft to solidify the connection between the bones