Laser Therapy for Spinal Diseases

Abstract

Since its introduction in 1980s, laser therapy, a minimally invasive, outpatient-based, effective, and relatively safe procedure for spine disease, has established itself worldwide. Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) was mainly applied to treat lumbar disc herniation with a satisfactory efficacy. Recently, the laser therapy has been used for various diseases including lumbar spinal stenosis and cervical disc diseases. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of laser therapy will be discussed. Technical and clinical aspects of current applications for spinal diseases will be also presented. Such applications include percutaneous lumbar disk decompression (PLDD), percutaneous endoscopic laser annuloplasty (PELA), epiduroscopic laser neural decompression (ELND), and laser disc decompression in cervical disc diseases.