Chymopapain chemonucleolysis in lumbar disk disease.

Experience with chymopapain chemonucleolysis in 1,200 cases of lumbar disk disease indicates that it is an effective method of relieving pain resulting from an abnormal intervertebral disk. Complications were few; anaphylaxis occurring immediately after injection was by far the most serious. With the use of a corticosteroid and an antihistamine in preoperative preparation, the incidence of anaphylaxis had dropped, although it still occurs. On long-term follow-up, chemonucleolysis appears to be as good as laminectomy in properly selected cases.