Percutaneous Discoplasty: Decompression of a Herniated Intervertebral Disc with Laser
Immediate relief for patients suffering from severe lumbosciatica, without the discomfort and risk of a major open surgery on the intervertebral disc, comes to provide – yet another – innovative therapeutic approach applied in the Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Department at the Athens Medical Center – Peristeri Clinic.
The reason for percutaneous laser discoplasty, a bloodless (minimally invasive) method that is performed under radioscopic guidance, follows the indications of classical surgical reconstruction and is widely used in European countries and the USA.
In the past, treating severe low back pain required major open disc surgery, which was associated with increased risk and a long and difficult recovery time. Patients undergoing traditional back surgery can expect a recovery time of 8 to 12 weeks.
The Procedure
Percutaneous disc decompression, also referred to as discoplasty, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is accomplished by sublimating the nucleus pulposus of the disc with the application of laser radiation.
Identification of the herniated disc is accomplished using fluoroscopy. A needle is then placed into the disc under local anesthesia. The laser fiber is fed through the needle into the affected disc, vaporizing the excess fluid.
Percutaneous laser discoplasty has the following characteristics:
- It has equivalent absorption in water and blood, achieving the optimal combination of sublimation of excess tissue (hernia) and solidification of the intervertebral space through photocoagulation.
- It ensures microsurgical precision of intervention as it has a small penetration depth and its energy does not affect the very sensitive adjacent tissues.
- The laser uses very small diameter and high precision fibers as an application medium, ensuring atraumatic access through very thin needles, intervention through a smaller hole, focused energy delivery, treatment with absolute precision.
As a procedure, percutaneous discoplasty has been proven to be safe and effective and does not lead to scarring or instability of the spine.
Advantages
Percutaneous laser discoplasty has very important advantages for the patient:
- It is performed under local anesthesia
- It lasts from 20-35 minutes and the hospitalization is only a few hours
- Back pain and sciatica subside immediately
- Reflexes return at the end of the procedure
- Esthetic deficits are restored after approximately one week
- Neurological symptoms disappear in two weeks
- The patient can immediately return (4-5 days) to his normal activities, since this procedure is completed percutaneously, the recovery time is much shorter than traditional surgery.
Other conditions that can be treated with percutaneous discoplasty – laser disc decompression.
Discoplasty is not only useful for treating herniated discs. Radiculopathy of the upper or lower extremities and spinal stenosis can also be treated with this technique. It can also be used to treat herniated discs in any vertebra. Treating herniated discs can also lead to a reduction in radiculopathy or radiating pain to the upper or lower extremities.
Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spaces in the spine, can cause pressure on the nerves that pass through the spine, which can lead to bulging discs and cause back pain.
Studies have shown that percutaneous discoplasty – laser disc decompression is a safe and effective alternative to surgery for spinal stenosis.
If you are experiencing back pain but want to avoid the long recovery time of traditional surgery, percutaneous discoplasty – laser disc decompression may be the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
