title: The Factors Associated With the Successful Outcomes of Percutaneous Disc Decompression in Patients With Lumbar Herniated Nucleus Pulposus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine clinical and radiological factors that predict the successful outcome of percutaneous disc decompression (PDD) in patients with lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological features of patients who underwent lumbar PDD from April 2009 to March 2013. Sixty-nine patients with lumbar HNP were studied. Clinical outcome was assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess relationship among clinical and radiological factors and the successful outcome of the PDD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VAS and the ODI decreased significantly at 1 year follow-up (p<0.01). One year after PDD, the reduction of the VAS (ΔVAS) was significantly greater in the patients with pain for <6 months (p=0.03) and subarticular HNP (p=0.015). The reduction of the ODI (ΔODI) was significantly greater in the patients with high intensity zone (p=0.04). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the following 5 factors that were associated with the successful outcome after PDD: pain duration for <6 months (odds ratio [OR]=14.036; p=0.006), positive straight leg raising test (OR=8.425, p=0.014), the extruded HNP (OR=0.106, p=0.04), the sequestrated HNP (OR=0.037, p=0.026), and the subarticular HNP (OR=10.876, p=0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDD provided significant improvement of pain and disability of patients. The results of the analysis indicated that the duration of pain <6 months, positive straight leg raising test, the subarticular HNP, and the protruded HNP were predicting factors associated with the successful response of PDD in patients with lumbar HNP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nack Hwan
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeun Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Yung
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jo
keywords: Decompression; Intervertebral disc displacement; Radiculopathy; Regression analysis; Treatment outcome