Possible risks and complications of posterior foraminotomy may include:

• 3-5% recurrent radiculopathy from foraminotomy
• 1-3% neurologic injury rate
• Damage to the spinal cord (about 1 in 10,000)
• Bleeding
• <1% infection rate
• Continued neck pain or arm pain
• Muscle scarring and atrophy
• Recurrent disc herniation
• Death

There is chance of a recurrent disc herniation because most of the disc is not removed with this type of surgery.