title: Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression: Retrospective Analysis of 197 Cases and Review of The Literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is a one of the well-known minimal invasive treatment methods of disc herniations. The aim of this study is to present our clinical experience and to show the benefits of this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 197 patients, who met the criteria of PLDD, underwent treatment between 2007 and 2009. The data of the patients was reviewed retrospectively. Among them, 107 (54.3 %) patients were male and 90 were female with a mean age of 46.34 years (ranged between 23 and 86 years). Seventy-two patients underwent one level PLDD, 112 (56.8 %) patients two levels PLDD and 13 patients three levels PLDD procedures. The mean follow-up time was 42 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 72 patients, the level of PLDD was L3-L4 in 4 patients, L4-L5 in 39 patients and L5-S1 in 29 patients. L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels were the most common 2-level PLDD locations in 71 patients. Twenty-five (12.7 %) patients underwent microsurgical discectomy after PLDD. The procedure was repeated in 3 patients. Discitis secondary to possible thermal injury occurred in 2 (0.1%) patients and this complication was improved with conservative treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PLDD is a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of discogenic pain if the patient met the selection criteria. However, this technique is not an alternative to open surgery.
authors.affiliation: Bilgi Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yahya Cem
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Erbas
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pusat
authors.forename: Ersin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erdogan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D015299:Discitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult