Turkish Neurosurgery 2015 , Vol 25 , Num 5
Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression: Retrospective Analysis of 197 Cases and Review of The Literature
Yahya Cem ERBAS1, Serhat PUSAT2, Ersin ERDOGAN3
1Bilgi Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Etimesgut Military Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
3Ufuk University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.14692-15.2 AIM: Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is a one of the well-known minimal invasive treatment methods of disc herniations. The aim of this study is to present our clinical experience and to show the benefits of this technique.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 197 patients, who met the criteria of PLDD, underwent treatment between 2007 and 2009. The data of the patients was reviewed retrospectively. Among them, 107 (54.3 %) patients were male and 90 were female with a mean age of 46.34 years (ranged between 23 and 86 years). Seventy-two patients underwent one level PLDD, 112 (56.8 %) patients two levels PLDD and 13 patients three levels PLDD procedures. The mean follow-up time was 42 months.

RESULTS: Among the 72 patients, the level of PLDD was L3-L4 in 4 patients, L4-L5 in 39 patients and L5-S1 in 29 patients. L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels were the most common 2-level PLDD locations in 71 patients. Twenty-five (12.7 %) patients underwent microsurgical discectomy after PLDD. The procedure was repeated in 3 patients. Discitis secondary to possible thermal injury occurred in 2 (0.1%) patients and this complication was improved with conservative treatment.

CONCLUSION: PLDD is a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of discogenic pain if the patient met the selection criteria. However, this technique is not an alternative to open surgery. Keywords : Percutaneous laser disc decompression, Discogenic back pain, Minimal invasive

Corresponding author : Serhat Pusat, pusatserhat@yahoo.com