title: Percutaneous laser disc decompression for lumbar disc hernia: indications based on Lasegue's Sign.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to establish reasonable indications of patient neurological manifestations for use of percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PLDD is a less invasive surgical procedure for lumbar disc hernia, whose indications have been described on the basis of radiographical findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five consecutive patients (45 men and 20 women) with lumbar disc hernia were treated with PLDD by applying a diode laser (wavelength 805 nm). A total of 450-1,205 joules (average, 805.5 joules) were delivered per disc. All patients suffered from radicular pain. They were divided based on the presence of Lasegue's sign. The post-procedure results at 1 week and 1 year were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PLDD was effective for patients with Lasegue's sign (80.0%), but ineffective for those without the sign.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that Lasegue's sign in patients is an indication of PLDD for lumbar disc hernia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan. kiwatsuki@nsurg.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwatsuki
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimine
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awazu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies