Percutaneous carbon dioxide laser nucleolysis with 2- to 5-year followup.
A prospective study of 50 patients with low back and radicular pain caused by an L4-L5 protruded disc were treated by percutaneous laser nucleolysis with a carbon dioxide laser. The followup ranged from 2 to 5 years, and all the patients were evaluated clinically and by imaging with computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance images before and after the procedure. According to the Macnab criteria, 74% of the patients had excellent or good results and 26% had fair or poor results. The laser disc decompression opens up new options in the treatment of discogenic pain, but it is still an experimental procedure.
Nerubay
J
J
Spinal Deformities Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Caspi
I
I
Levinkopf
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D017587:Diskectomy, Percutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002245:Carbon Dioxide