Percutaneous laser nucleolysis of the intervertebral lumbar disc. An experimental study.
Percutaneous laser discectomy has developed as a new modality in the treatment of herniated intervertebral discs. An experimental study of percutaneous nucleolysis using a carbon dioxide laser beam was performed in 10 dogs, each dog having 2 intervertebral disc spaces treated, for a total of 20 discs. The intradiscal pressure decreased in all instances with the drop ranging from 10% to 55% at the L2-L3 disc and 40% to 69% at the L4-L5 disc. The macroscopic and microscopic studies showed vaporization of the nucleus pulposus, and in 8 spaces, thermal damage to the end plate was observed. This study suggests that carbon dioxide laser nucleolysis is easy and effective, but 300 J of laser energy can damage the end plates in some intervertebral discs in dogs.
Nerubay
J
J
Spinal Deformities Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Caspi
I
I
Levinkopf
M
M
Tadmor
A
A
Bubis
J J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D017587:Diskectomy, Percutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D000072042:Salter-Harris Fractures
D002245:Carbon Dioxide