Intraoperative chemonucleolysis as an adjunct to lumbar discectomy.
METHODS
This is a report of a series of 104 patients who underwent lumbar discectomy and chemonucleolysis at the University of Virginia between 1985 and 1989.


OBJECTIVE
The primary objective was to determine the safety of this procedure. A secondary objective was to begin studying its efficacy.


BACKGROUND
This is the first report on the use of chymopapain during open surgery.


METHODS
Patients with low back pain and radicular symptoms not cured with conservative therapy were selected for participation in the study. Intraoperatively, disc spaces were injected with 2 ml of chymopapain. Patients were followed-up for an average of 5 years. Patients were surveyed regarding pain relief, and failures of the procedure were analyzed.


RESULTS
Seventy percent of patients reported good or excellent pain relief. Operative failures, characterized by reoperation at the same level, totaled 9.6%. Recurrent disc herniation at the time of reoperation occurred in 4.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
The procedure is safe and the relief of pain was similar to that in other published series. The suggestion is that the rate of recurrent disc herniation is reduced.
Sagher
O
O
Section of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, USA.
Szabo
T A
TA
Chenelle
A G
AG
Jane
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007404:Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis / Q000379:methods*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000628:therapy*; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D002917:Chymopapain