Lateral Decompression of a Pathological Disc in the Treatment of Lumbar Pain and Sciatica

Lasers in percutaneous disc surgery: Beneficial technology or gimmick?

“…Nucleus pulposus is removed from the center of the disc either by a NucleotomeTM (34, SO), or by an anulus trephine and a forceps (47). Since the instruments are straight and rigid, only parts of the nucleus pulposus from the center of the disc space can be removed.…”

“…However, in a recent multicenter study, it has been proven less effective (22) and its indications should be restricted to contained disc herniations/protrusions (7) ( Table 2). The method of percutaneous disc fenestration is associated with a high complication rate (41,47).…”

“…The aim of this article is to give a survey of the current knowledge on lasers in percutaneous disc surgery. (Table I ) The surgical goal of non-endoscopic techniques is to achieve an 'internal disc decompression' by removal of parts of the nucleus pulposus from the center of the disc space without visual control (47,50). They are indicated in contained disc herniations ('protrusions').…”

Combined intra-extracanal approach to lumbosacral disc herniations with bi-radicular involvement. Technical considerations from a surgical series of 15 cases

“…Laterally located disc herniations occasionally involve the exiting (upper) nerve root either within or outside the neuroforamen. Extraforaminal disc material is conveniently exposed through an extraspinal intertransverse approach [6,13,14,16]; purely intraforaminal disc fragments can be reached from both the intraspinal and extraspinal perspectives [2,4,10].…”

Comparative sudy of surface displacement in discs following chemonucleolysis and lasernucleotomy

“…tradiscal pressure in chemonucleolysis as well as in lasernucleotomy showed a decrease in intradiscal pressure for both methods [6,[20][21][22]. Up to now, the biomechanical changes of the outer posterior anulus have not been investigated in a comparative study.…”