title: Preliminary Italian experience of lumbar spine percutaneous laser disc decompression according to Choy's method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to describe the preliminary first Italian experience on lumbar spine percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) using a Nd:YAG laser according to Choy's technique.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PLDD is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of a widely selected group of patients affected by herniated disc problems. Several studies, using a variety of different lasers used, have demonstrated its safety and worth. The current study is the first large PLDD series reported in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lumbar PLDD procedures, according to Choy's method, were performed in 92 patients. There were 53 male and 39 female patients, and their ages ranged from 21 to 79 years. All the patients were treated in the operative room according to aseptic rules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall results, evaluated with the MacNab criteria with a short follow-up (medium 5 months, maximum 12 months) were as follows: 76 patients (82.8%) showed excellent or good improvement, and 16 patients (17.2%) showed no or poor improvement. No complications were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results, even though a longer follow-up is needed in future studies, have confirmed that PLDD (according to Choy's method) is a first-choice treatment for a large group of patients affected by herniated disc that is not responding to conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Casa di Cura Villa Anna, San Benedetto del Tronto, Casa di Cura Pierangeli, Pescara, Italy. issat@libero.it
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tassi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery; D007558:Italy; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome