ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the indications,technical skills and the therapeutic effects of percutaneous lumbar diskectomy(PLD) for the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in patients over 70 years.Methods From August 2004 to July 2008,PLD was performed in 48 patients(aged 70-79) with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.A total of 58 lumbar intervertebral disc herniations were detected,all of which were encapsulated intervertebral disc herniation.Fifty-two patients,who showed similar symptoms,signs and same imaging manifestations and were 70-81 years old,were randomly selected as control group to receive conservative treatment.Results Of 56 lumbar intervertebral disc herniations,54 were successfully punctured with a successful rate of 96.4%.All patients were followed up.The excellent rate and the effective rate at 6 months were 29.1% and 52.1% respectively for PLD group,while that were 19.2% and 36.5% respectively for control group.The excellent rate and the effective rate at 12 months were 25.0% and 47.9% respectively for PLD group,while that were 17.3% and 32.7% respectively for control group.At both 6 and 12 months after the treatment,the therapeutic effects of PLD group were significantly better than that of control group,the difference were statistically significant(?2=7.45,P