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PubMed1988

A four-wall orbital decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy.

A new surgical technique is described for the relief of the ocular manifestations of dysthyroid orbitopathy. Surgical decompression of the orbit was reserved for patients who failed to respond to medical treatment. Eleven patients (nine women and two men) were followed for periods from 3 to 48 months. Visual loss was the commonest presentation and the main indication for surgery. All patients had failed to respond to medical therapy, consisting of steroid and/or radiation therapy. Three patients had previously undergone orbital decompressions with limited success. Six patients had preoperative visual acuity of worse than 20/200. Preoperative exophthalmos ranged from 24 to 35 mm (normal 16 mm). The orbits were approached by a bifrontal scalp flap with exposure of the temporal and infratemporal fossae. The orbital roof was approached transcranially. The posterior wall of the frontal sinus was removed together with the mucous lining. To maximize the decompression, the periosteum surrounding the orbital contents was incised, allowing the contents to prolapse through the newly created windows into the maxillary antrum, temporal fossa, anterior cranial fossa, and nose. During the past 3 years, 22 orbits in 11 patients have been decompressed by this technique. Symptomatic relief was obtained in all but one patient who still had significant exophthalmos with keratitis, but did have a dramatic improvement in vision. The decrease in exophthalmos ranged from 1 to 13 mm (mean 7 mm). The most dramatic improvement was in vision, with postoperative acuity of 20/20 to 20/30 in all but two patients. There were no deaths and no major morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of microvascular decompression and partial sensory rhizotomy in 252 cases of trigeminal neuralgia.

Outcome after 252 posterior fossa explorations for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia was determined by a retrospective review. Patients with distortion of the fifth nerve root caused by extrinsic vascular compression underwent microvascular decompression, those with no compression underwent partial sensory rhizotomy, and those with vascular contact but no distortion of the nerve root underwent decompression and rhizotomy. The mean follow-up period was 5.1 years. An excellent (75%) or good (8%) clinical outcome was achieved in 208 patients; 13 patients (5%) experienced little or no pain relief. Thirty-one patients (12%) suffered recurrent trigeminal neuralgia an average of 1.9 pain-free years after operation; recurrence continued at a rate of approximately 2% per year thereafter. Reoperation for recurrent or persistent pain provided excellent or good results in 85% of reoperated patients, but partial sensory rhizotomy was required in most of these patients. Outcome was affected by previous surgical procedures. A previous percutaneous radiofrequency lesion was associated with a significantly greater incidence of fifth nerve complications and a worse outcome after posterior fossa exploration. Because of this finding, the authors recommend that percutaneous radiofrequency rhizolysis be reserved for patients who have failed posterior fossa exploration or who are not candidates for surgery. Patients with compressive nerve root distortion and a short duration of symptoms before surgery had a significantly better outcome than patients with a longer duration of symptoms. In contrast, there was no relationship between the duration of symptoms and outcome of patients without nerve root distortion. Vascular decompression may cause dysfunction of the trigeminal system in tic douloureux, but in patients who remain untreated for long periods an intrinsic abnormality develops that may perpetuate pain even after microvascular decompression. Posterior fossa exploration is recommended as the procedure of choice for patients with trigeminal neuralgia who are surgical candidates.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Surgical decompression for symptomatic Chiari II malformation in neonates with myelomeningocele.

Between January, 1981, and July, 1991, 17 infants under 1 month of age were admitted to The Hospital for Sick Children with the signs and symptoms of a Chiari II malformation. These patients' presentation included swallowing difficulty (71%), stridor (59%), apneic spells (29%), aspiration (12%), weakness of cry (18%), and arm weakness (53%). Decompression of the Chiari II malformation was performed in all patients, with a time interval between onset of symptoms and surgery ranging from 1 to 121 days. Fifteen patients (88%) remain alive, all of whom have shown a complete recovery. The mean follow-up period in this group of patients was 65 months. Two patients died, one due to respiratory arrest 8 months after decompression and the other because of shunt infection and peritonitis 7 years after decompression. These results support the concept that compressive forces, rather than a primary intrinsic disorder of the brain-stem nuclei, play a crucial etiological role in the development of a symptomatic Chiari II malformation. Early recognition of the symptoms of Chiari II malformation should be followed by immediate decompressive laminectomy in order to promote a prompt and full neurological recovery.

Arnold-Chiari Malformation↗
PubMed1992

Outcome following hindbrain decompression of symptomatic Chiari malformations in children previously treated with myelomeningocele closure and shunts.

Between 1975 and 1989, 25 children treated with myelomeningocele closure and shunting for hydrocephalus at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh developed progressive lower brain-stem dysfunction from their Chiari malformation. Retrospective univariate and multivariate analyses of these cases were undertaken to assess the relationship between preoperative clinical factors and postoperative outcome. Since earlier reports have suggested that neonates with symptomatic Chiari malformations show a less favorable response than older children to craniocervical decompression, particular attention was directed at examining the effect of age on preoperative symptoms and postoperative outcome. Patients were subdivided by age into two groups, namely: 13 patients who became symptomatic before 2 months of age (neonatal group) and 12 older infants and children who developed initial symptoms between 6 months and 10 years of age. Once symptoms developed, patients in both groups deteriorated progressively until brain-stem decompression was performed. The mode of presentation and the rate and extent of neurological deterioration differed substantially in the two groups. Whereas the neonates typically showed rapid neurological deterioration and often manifested profound brain-stem dysfunction within a period of several days, the older patients experienced a more insidious symptom progression and rarely demonstrated the severe degree of impairment seen in the neonates. All patients underwent suboccipital craniectomy, cervical laminectomy, and dural decompression. A shunt from the fourth ventricle and/or syrinx to the subarachnoid space was placed in those with significant syringomyelia. Following surgery, 17 patients had complete or nearly complete resolution of all signs of brain-stem compression, three had mild to moderate residual deficits, and five showed no improvement. Outcome correlated closely with the preoperative neurological status. In particular, the presence of bilateral vocal cord paralysis was associated with a poor response to surgery (p < 0.001 on both univariate and multivariate analyses). Of the six patients (all neonates) who progressed to complete bilateral vocal cord paralysis before surgery, only one improved. In contrast, all patients with less profound but nonetheless severe deficits recovered function postoperatively. Although the neonates as a group had a poorer outcome than did the older patients (p = 0.02 on univariate analysis), this in large part reflected their more severe preoperative impairments; neonates who still had some preservation of vocal cord function before surgery subsequently did as well as the older patients. Accordingly, age did not prove to be an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis. Taken together, these results indicate that, in most patients with symptomatic Chiari II malformations (including neonates), neurological deficits are potentially reversible if hindbrain decompression is performed expeditiously.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Unilateral posterolateral decompression without stabilization for neurological palliation of symptomatic spinal metastasis in debilitated patients.

Patients with symptomatic spinal metastases and limited life expectancy are often too debilitated to withstand anterior or posterolateral spinal cord decompression and segmental stabilization. More limited surgery aiming solely at preservation or restoration of neurological function and relief from pain offers the potential for significant improvement in the quality of remaining life without incurring undue perioperative morbidity and mortality. Eight patients with spinal metastases and limited life expectancy underwent a unilateral transpedicular decompression procedure on their most symptomatic side and/or the side of maximum tumor involvement. All patients were neurologically improved within the 1st postoperative week; all were ambulatory and continent postoperatively. Postoperatively, all five patients with preoperative motor deficits demonstrated increased motor strength, and the three patients with predominant radicular pain reported marked improvement. There were no perioperative deaths and two transient perioperative complications. The average length of hospitalization was 6 days for patients without complications and 10 days for the entire group. Unilateral transpedicular decompression without stabilization is an effective and safe method for palliating symptomatic spinal metastases in debilitated patients with widespread malignancy and limited life expectancy. This therapeutic option should be considered in select cases as an alternative to either nonoperative management or anterior or posterolateral decompression and segmental stabilization.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis by extensive unilateral decompression and contralateral autologous bone fusion: operative technique and results.

A new surgical technique for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis features extensive unilateral decompression with undercutting of the spinous process and, to preserve stability, uses contralateral autologous bone fusion of the spinous processes, laminae, and facets. The operation was performed in 29 patients over a 19-month period ending in December of 1991. All individuals had been unresponsive to conservative treatment and presented with low-back pain in addition to signs and symptoms consistent with neurogenic claudication or radiculopathy. Nine had undergone previous lumbar decompressive surgery. The minimum and mean postoperative follow-up times were 2 and 2 1/2 years, respectively. The mean patient age was 64 years; only two patients were younger than 50 years of age. Of the patients with neurogenic claudication, 69% reported complete pain relief at follow-up review. Of those with radicular symptoms, 41% had complete relief and 23% had mild residual pain that was rated 3 or less on a pain-functionality scale of 0 to 10. For the entire sample, this surgery decreased pain from 9.2 to 3.3 (p < 0.0001) on the scale. Sixty-nine percent of patients were satisfied with surgery. Low-back pain was significantly relieved in 62% of all patients (p < 0.0001). Low-back pain relief correlated negatively with number of levels decompressed (p < 0.05). To assess fusion, follow-up flexion/extension radiographs were obtained, and no motion was detected at the surgically treated levels in any patient. The results suggest that this decompression procedure safely and successfully treats not only the radicular symptoms caused by lateral stenosis but also the neurogenic claudication symptoms associated with central stenosis. In addition, the procedure, by using contralateral autologous bone fusion along the laminae and spinous processes, can preserve stability without instrumentation.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A new endoscopic technique to decompress lumbar nerve roots affected by spondylolysis. Technical note.

The authors describe a new endoscopic technique to decompress lumbar nerve roots affected by spondylolysis. Short-term clinical outcome was evaluated. Surgery-related indications were: 1) radiculopathy without low-back pain; 2) no spinal instability demonstrated on dynamic radiographs; and 3) age older than 40 years. Seven patients, four men and three women, fulfilled these criteria and underwent endoscopic decompressive surgery. Their mean age was 60.9 years (range 42-70 years). No subluxation was present in four patients, whereas Meyerding Grade I slippage was demonstrated in three. For endoscopic decompression, a skin incision of 16 to 18 mm in length was made, and fenestration was performed to identify the affected nerve root. The proximal stump of the ragged edge of the spondylotic lesion, and the fibrocartilaginous mass compressing the nerve root were removed. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 22 months (mean 11.7 months). Clinical outcome was evaluated using Gill criteria; in three patients the outcome was excellent, and in four it was good. This new endoscopic technique was useful in the decompression of nerve roots affected by spondylolysis, the technique was minimally invasive, and the clinical results were acceptable.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Delayed ischemic gangrene change of distal limb despite optimal decompressed colostomy constructed in obstructed sigmoid colon cancer: a case report.

Creating blow-hole colostomy for decompression could provide a time-saving and efficient surgical procedure for a severely debilitated case with a completely obstructed colorectal cancer. Complications are reported as prolapse, retraction, and paracolostomal abscess. However, complication with an ischemic distal limb has not been reported. We report a case of critical intra-abdominal disease after decompressed colostomy for relieving malignant sigmoid colon obstruction; a potential fatal condition should be alerted. A 76-year-old male visited our emergency department for symptoms related to obstructed sigmoid colon tumor with foul-odor vomitus containing fecal-like materials. An emergent blow-hole colostomy proximal to an obstructed sigmoid lesion was created, and resolution of complete colon obstruction was pursued. Unfortunately, extensive abdominal painful distention with board-like abdomen and sudden onset of high fever with leukocytopenia developed subsequently. Such surgical abdomen rendered a secondary laparotomy with resection of the sigmoid tumor along with an ischemic colon segment located proximally up to the previously created colostomy. Eventually, the patient had an uneventful postoperative hospital stay. In the present article, we have described an emergent condition of sudden onset of distal limb ischemia after blow-hole colostomy and concluded that despite the decompressed colostomy would resolve acute malignant colon obstruction efficiently; impending ischemic bowel may progress with a possible irreversible peritonitis. Any patient, who undergoes a decompressed colostomy without resection of the obstructed lesion, should be monitored with leukocyte count and abdominal condition survey frequently.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Vascularized fibular grafting compared with core decompression in the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis.

A prospective study was undertaken to compare vascularized fibular grafting (VFG) with core decompression for Ficat Grade II and III femoral head osteonecrosis. The study group included 39 hips in 34 patients-20 VFGs and 19 core decompressions. Independent evaluation of results was performed by an orthopedic surgeon and a radiologist at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively (range: 2 to 5 years). Disease extent was assessed by Ficat radiographic gradings. VFGs failed (conversion to total hip arthroplasty for functionally incapacitating pain) at a rate of 20%, significantly lower than the 58% failure rate of core decompressions (P = .025). Complications included 2 proximal femur fractures in each group, ankle pain in 6 VFGs, and graft vessel thrombosis in 1 VFG. Vascularized fibular grafting appears superior to core decompression in prolonging hip joint survivorship for Ficat Grades II and III femoral head osteonecrosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Activity of enzymes of adenyline compounds metabolism during crush and decompression of muscle tissue. Part I. Adenylate deaminase activity at experimental crush syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The number of works on investigation of crush syndrome (CS) pathogenesis, of organs and enzymatic systems at traumatic toxicosis is rather limited. While the clinical current of trauma and the lethality prognosis depend on a degree of violations in them. Such investigations are necessary for opportune diagnosis and definition of a treatment tactic. To complete this deficiency, adenylate deaminase (AMPD) level was studied in twelve tissues at experimental CS in vivo. RESULTS: The experimental model of CS on white rats was caused by crush and decompression of femoral muscle tissue. The CS influence on AMPD activity was investigated in hemisphere, cerebellum, hypothalamus, pituitary body, heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal, crushed and not crushed muscles. In muscles, kidney, pituitary body and adrenal the activity decreased in 2 hours crush but the compensation of effect is observed after 5 hours crush. In cerebellum, hemisphere, heart, liver and lung it decreased during both of crush times. After 2 and 5 hours crush in hypothalamus and in spleen AMPD activity appeared much higher than in control. After 2 hours crush at the end of 48 hours decompression, the activity in muscles, kidney, adrenal and pituitary body was lower, in cerebellum, hypothalamus, hemisphere and heart--higher than, in lung, spleen and liver--close to control. After 5 hours crush in the majority of studied tissues at the end of decompression, the activity was below of control. The greatest deviance was observed in muscles. As to brain in cerebellum and hemisphere the parameter was close to, in pituitary body and in hypothalamus it was 1,5-fold of control. CONCLUSION: AMPD level in the most of studied tissues differs from the control at definite time of crush and decompression. These results mean the possibility of nucleotides pool balance distortion and intermediates accumulation.

AMP Deaminase↗
PubMed2001

[Clinical course and prognosis of diplopias after orbital bony wall decompression for thyroid related orbitopathy].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess how oculomotor complications progress after orbital bony decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy and to assess the residual risk of consecutive diplopia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medial orbital wall and floor were decompressed by a transpalpebral approach in 77 patients (117 orbits). Indications for decompression were optic neuropathy in 22 patients, exposure of the cornea in 1 patient, and cosmetic rehabilitation in 54 patients. Occurrence of oculomotor disorder after surgery was noted and the clinical course after a one-year follow-up was studied. RESULTS: Diplopia was observed in 34 patients (44%): 18 of these patients were treated by external orbital radiotherapy before surgery. Diplopia decreased spontaneously over a period ranging from 15 days to 2 months or was treated by adequate prism in 22 cases. A higher degree of diplopia (12 to 30 diopters) was noted in 12 cases, requiring surgical care that was successful in all cases. This progress was especially observed in patients with optic neuropathy or in patients who had been previously treated with external orbital radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Prognosis of diplopia after bony wall decompression for thyroid-related orbitopathy can be favorable with spontaneous reduction, prism, or surgical treatment. Precise information should be given to the patients before surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Molecular basis of behavioral recovery following spinal cord decompression: an immunocytochemical study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), a marker for cholinergic neurons, and growth-associated protein (GAP-43), a marker for synaptogenesis, occurs differently following compression vs. decompression of spinal cord, and whether the reactions have any relationship with the time course of behavioral recovery. METHODS: A spinal cord compression model was studied quantitatively with an immunohistochemical method. The behavioral recovery of the rat was assessed by combined behavior score (CBS). RESULTS: The rebound in the ChAT-positive cell ratio was higher in decompressed cord than in compressed one. The time course of the change in the ChAT-positive cell ratio coincided with the recovery of CBS in the two models. Increased GAP-43 expression was found in the region of injured cord in the two models. Increased GAP-43 expression was partially parallel to the recovery of CBS, both in the decompression and continuous compression groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that there are ChAT reversible neurons in both the compressed and decompressed cord, the number of which is closely related to the recovery of behavior following cord injury. Synaptogenesis plays a limited role in behavior recovery.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Bile decompression in children with histopathological evidence of pre-existing liver cirrhosis.

Although it is agreed upon by most that adequate and timely bile decompression can preserve or even improve existing liver function much debate centers on whether pre-existing liver cirrhosis can also be reversed. To help answer this question we analyzed data on 47 children with choledochal cyst disease (CD) who underwent simultaneous liver biopsy during bile decompression surgery. We collected data on two groups of children with CD spanning two different time periods: January 1985 through November 1994 (Group A) and June 1995 through November 1999 (Group B). In Group A 37 children (16 boys and 21 girls ages 5 days to 10 years) underwent simultaneous liver biopsy during elective definitive surgery for CD. In Group B ten children (five boys and five girls age one month to 7 years) underwent liver biopsy twice: first during initial cyst decompression for acute obstruction and second during elective definitive surgery after resolution of acute disease. Degree of liver cirrhosis was based on a modified World Health Organization classification system (0-IV). In Group A 15/37 (40.5%) had significant liver cirrhosis at time of biopsy (III or IV) with altered liver function in all cases; eight of nine had normal liver function on follow-up, six were lost to follow-up. In Group B seven of ten (70%) had less liver cirrhosis on pathology at second operation with three unchanged; nine of ten (90%) regained normal liver function. We conclude that bile duct obstruction is the main cause of liver cirrhosis in children with CD. Adequate and timely bile decompression can restore normal liver function and even reverse severe cirrhosis.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Simplification of the orthotopic hepatic transplantation in the dog. 20 cases without decompression of the sub-hepatic cave system].

Although the human orthotopic transplantation technique is settled, the animal transplantation is still useful as it can be a helpful training for the human transplant and allows to test the hepatic parenchyma means of preservation value, as well as the immuno-depressing treatments qualities. Up to now, the orthotopic hepatic canine transplantation was complicated by the necessity of decompressing the splanchnic and cava regions of the recipient dog during the hepatectomy and the graft. During this experimentation, the 20 dogs orthotopic hepatic transplantations were done by decompressing only the splanchnic veinous system with a porto-jugular by-pass and by letting the inferior vena cava clamped during the hepatectomy and the transplant settlement. All the dogs survived this operation. The haemodynamic studies showed that the porto-jugular bypass was efficient to decompress the veinous splanchnic system and principally that the systemic arterial pressure gave a slight drop when the bypass was opened, the infra hepatic vena cava being clamped. It is therefore proved that the dog orthotopic hepatic transplantation may be done only be decompressing the veinous splanchnic system which is a technical simplification, avoiding particularly the temporary porto-cava anastomosis or the settlement of a second femoro-jugular shunt.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[The efficacy of allogenic strut bone graft and instrumentation for anterior cervical fusion following subtotal corpectomy and decompression in cervical myelopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of allogenic strut bone graft and instrumentation for anterior cervical fusion following subtotal corpectomy and decompression in cervical myelopathy. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with cervical myelopathy were treated by the procedure of allogenic strut bone graft and instrumentation for anterior cervical fusion following subtotal corpectomy and decompression. The preoperative average JOA scale score was 8.7 point (Range 4-15). RESULTS: Sixty-nine vertebral were corpectomized and 104 levels were decompressed and fused with an average of 3 levels. Among the cases, 1 vertebrae was corpectomized in 7 cases, 2 vertebra in 22 cases, 3 vertebra in 6 cases. There were no surgery-related complications. The patients were followed up from 11-37 months, with an average of 17.4 months. No plate breakage, screw loose, graft infection, lysis and absorption was discovered. The fusion rate was 100%, the average time of fusion was 9.3 months (range from 6-15 months). The postoperative average JOA scale score was 14.8 point (range 7-17), the recovery ratio was 73.5% and the excellent and good results was 82.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of allogenic strut bone graft and instrumentation for anterior cervical fusion following subtotal corpectomy and decompression in cervical myelopathy may not only simplify surgical procedure and decrease injuries and complications, but also the fusion is satisfactory and reliable.

Bone Transplantation↗
PubMed1992

Anterior decompression and arthrodesis of the cervical spine: long-term motor improvement. Part II--Improvement in complete traumatic quadriplegia.

Fifty-one patients who had complete motor quadriplegia secondary to a fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine were managed by anterior cervical decompression and arthrodesis with iliac bone grafts between 1973 and 1983. In all patients, myelography demonstrated that displaced fragments of bone and disc were compressing the anterior aspect of the spinal cord. Decompression was performed in an attempt to gain further improvement of the motor-roots in the upper extremities and thereby to improve the ability of the patients to care for themselves. The average interval from the injury to the decompression was fifteen months (range, one month to eight years). Two patients died within two months after the operation, one had a respiratory arrest that resulted in brain damage one day after the operation, and two died from cardiovascular disease more than one year after the operation. The remaining forty-six patients were followed for an average of five years (range, two to thirteen years). Neurological improvement of at least two new functional motor-root levels was documented in seven patients and of one level, in eighteen. Increased motor strength by two or three grades was seen in six patients. Noteworthy motor improvement did not occur in the remaining twenty patients. The mean modified Barthel index (used to measure improvement in the ability to perform activities of daily living) increased from 17 to 33 (of a possible 100) points. Functionally important improvement of the caudad part of the cord occurred in only one patient. In one patient, neural injury, with loss of one motor-root level, occurred, with only partial improvement. At the latest follow-up examination, the result was poor in nine of eleven patients who had decompression eighteen months or more after the injury. Only two of these patients had any improvement in the Barthel index, and then of only 5 points each. The result also was poor in the five patients who were more than fifty-three years old; two had no improvement in the Barthel index, one improved by 5 points, and two died.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Surgical treatment of craniocervical decompression without Chiari malformation in syringomyelia.

We aimed to describe a patient without Chiari malformation who was treated via craniocervical decompression and by creating cisterna manga with an autologous fascia graft, and who displayed a clinical and radiological improvement in the post-operative period. Syringomyelia is a chronic and progressive disease with cavitation and gliosis in the spinal cord. It is more common in adulthood and often involves the cervical region. Due to the fact that craniocervical decompression therapy is successful in syringomyelia with Chiari malformation, this surgical treatment is currently controversial in syringomyelia without Chiari malformation. A 33-year-old male applied to our clinic with numbness and weakness in his left hand that had lasted for 2 years, but his condition had worsened in recent months, with neck pain before over previous the 8 months and a walking disturbance that had appeared 7 months before. Syringomyelia was found between the C2 and T8 vertebrae levels on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The patient was diagnosed with syringomyelia and underwent suboccipital decompression. Cisterna magna was created by duraplasty with a fascia lata graft. Consequently, craniocervical decompression might be accepted as a treatment method of choice in patients with syringomyelia without Chiari malformation.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of percutaneous disc decompression using coblation in chronic back pain with or without leg pain.

The intervertebral disc is the focal point of pathology for most low back pain. Contained disc herniation is a common cause of low back pain and, when unresponsive to conservative measures, is often treatable by disc decompression. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous disc decompression using Coblation (Nucleoplasty) in the treatment of back and/or leg pain associated with contained disc herniation, a prospective, nonrandomized cohort analysis was conducted in an interventional pain management practice. Patients were followed for twelve months post procedure. Eighty patients who presented with discogenic low back pain with or without radicular pain associated with contained disc herniation underwent percutaneous disc decompression using Coblation technology (Nucleoplasty) after failing at least 3 months of conservative and injection therapies. Overall, 75% of patients indicated a decrease in their numeric pain scores at 12 months with a statistically significant reduction in numeric pain scores of 2.43 +/- 2.47 (p<0.0001) compared to baseline. A total of 54% of patients indicated pain relief of 50% or more at twelve months. Additionally, significant improvement was reported by 54%, 44%, and 49% of patients in sitting, standing and walking abilities, respectively, at 12 months. There were no instances of complications. These results indicate that disc decompression using Coblation (Nucleoplasty) is a safe and efficacious procedure for reducing discogenic low back pain with or without leg pain.

Journal Article↗