[Clinical experience with automated percutaneous diskectomy].

Percutaneous automated aspiration discectomy (Nucleotome, Surgical Dynamics) is a new procedure for treating herniated lumbar discs. In a series of 35 patients, followed-up after 6 months, the overall success rate was 74%. 19 patients resumed work 4 weeks after surgery. In 6 patients the interventions were judged as failures and required reoperation (laminectomies). All the patients obtained complete relief. Meticulous selection of patients for percutaneous lumbar discectomy is the key to success. No intra-operative or post-operative complications occurred.