Cohort-controlled study on percutaneous laser decompression in treating lumbar disc herniation / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous laser disc decompression(PLDD) is a new technology developed to treat lumbar herniated disk inrecent years; however,only limited literature has been reported about cohort study on its indications.OBJECTIVE: To treat patients with lumbar disc herniations by PLDD and evaluate the effects of PLDD in releasing painandimproving lumbar function after operation.DESIGN: Non-randomized concurrent controlled trial based on thepatients.SETTING: Department of Radiology of the 474 Hospital of Chinese PLA.PTICIPANTS This study recruited totally 173 patients ( 101 males and 72 females aged from 18 to 75 years) who received PLDD in the Department of Radiology of the 474 Hospital of Chinese PLA from July 1998 to August 2002 and were followed up for over one year.METHODS:The 173 patients were divided into good indication group (Group A, n = 139) and poor indication group(Group B, n =34). Group B was further divided into extrusion group(Group B1 of 8 patients),lumbar canal stenosis group(Group B2 of 15 patients) and other conditions group (Group B3 of 11 patients). VAS scoring criteria and modified Macnab criteria were used to evaluate the curative effects.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary results: the degree of pain and lumbar function. Secondary results:the success rate of puncture as well as adverse events and side effects.RESULTS: The success rate of puncture was 96. 3％ for performing through L5 - S1 and 100％ through L3-4 and L4-5. In Group A, excellent postoperative effects were seen in 63 cases, good in 51 cases, fair in 20 cases and poor in 5 cases, with 82.0％ excellent and good rates. The excellent and good rate in Group B was 55.9％. Postoperative back pain could be relieved several days later. Other complications such as disc infection,psoas hematoma,rupture of colon,injuries of nerve roots and bloodvessels did not occur. There was a significant difference between Group A and Group B(x2=10.38, P ＜0.05).CONCLUSION: (① PLDD is a convenient, safe and reliable procedure in treating lumbar disc herniation because of its high success rate, satisfactory results and fewer complications.② Proper selection of indications helps improve the curative effects of lumbar disc herniation.