Effectiveness of Sacral Epidural Laser Discectomy in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain Resistant to Conservative Treatment.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sacral epidural laser discectomy (SELD) on clinical parameters in patients with chronic low back and/or leg pain (CLBLP) resistant to conservative treatment. A total of 75 patients with CLBLP who received SELD treatment were retrospectively included in this study. Patients were assessed for pain (numeric rating scale-NRS) and disability (Oswestry Disability Index-ODI). NRS and ODI scores were recorded before the operation and 1, 6, and 12 months after the operation. Of the 75 patients, with a mean age of 52 ± 11 years (range: 30-78 years), 45 (60.0%) were female and 35 (40.0%) were male. The baseline pain intensity (7.43 ± 0.774) and pain intensities obtained at three time points following the surgeries (1 month [3.93 ± 1.571], 6 months [4.36 ± 1.591], 12 months [5.00 ± 1.716]) showed statistically significant differences ( < 0.001). The baseline pain-related disability (2.92 ± 0.539) and the data obtained at three subsequent time points (1 month [1.76 ± 0.883], 6 months [1.85 ± 0.896], and 12 months [2.01 ± 0.923]) showed a statistically significant difference in pain-related disability ( < 0.001). The most common complications were headache (five patients) and incisional pain (five patients). As a result of this study, we found that SELD reduces pain and disability in patients with conservative-treatment-resistant CLBLP. Although serious complications may rarely occur, the procedure is generally associated with an acceptable and low complication rate.