Efficacy of chymopapain chemonucleolysis. A long-term review of 105 patients.
A 9- to 12-year follow-up review was conducted in 105 of 124 patients who were treated with chymopapain chemonucleolysis for herniated lumbar disc. The data were obtained from responses to a questionnaire. Seventy-nine patients (75.2%) reported marked improvement, six (5.7%) had slight improvement, and 20 (19.0%) had no improvement. Of the 87 patients not receiving workman's compensation, 70 patients (80.5%) had marked improvement; four (4.6%) had slight improvement; and 13 (14.9%) had no improvement. Of the 18 compensation cases, nine patients (50.0%) had marked improvement; two patients (11.1%) had slight improvement; and seven patients (38.9%) had no improvement. These results are comparable to those reported for surgical discectomy, and confirm that chymopapain chemonucleolysis is an alternative to surgery.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D010450:Endopeptidases; D002917:Chymopapain