Open after unsatisfactory percutaneous lumbar discectomy: experience and findings

In the search of less invasive techniques for the treatment of discogenic low back pain, percutaneous discectomy, especially in its automated form, has crept to occupy an important place in the range of different treatment modalities. Great experience is required, as well as strict adherence to patient selection rules. Failures and complications should be promptly dealt with. Ten cases with unsatisfactory results after one or two trials at PCD are presented. They necessitated open exploration and removal of the offending factors. All yielded excellent results permitted to draw some guidelines governing the indications and techniques of PCD