RESUMO
Objective To investigate the efficacy of radio-frequency disc nucleoplasty and chemonucleolysis with collagenase for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.Methods Eighty patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated by nucleoplasty combined with chemonucleolysis using collagenase(1200 U) in our hospital from January 2002 to January 2007.Results The patients were re-examined in 2 weeks,4 weeks and 6 months after the operation.According to the modified MacNab criteria,62 patients achieved excellent outcomes,10 were good,6 were fair,and 2 were poor.The rate of excellent and good outcomes were 90%(72/80).No serious complications occurred in this series.Conclusion Radio-frequency disc nucleoplasty and chemonucleolysis with collagenase are minimally invasive and effective for lumbar disc hernia.