Percutaneous laser disc decompression for lumbar disc hernia: indications based on Lasegue's Sign.
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.
Iwatsuki
Koichi
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan. kiwatsuki@nsurg.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Yoshimine
Toshiki
T
Awazu
Kunio
K
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