[The treatment of lumbosciatica by intra-discal injection of proteolytic enzymes (nucleolysis). 80 cases (author's transl)].

Proteolytic enzymes originated from carica papaya, injected extra durally in the lumbar intervertebral disc of 80 patients suffering from intractable root pain due to herniated discs, led to 85% of satisfactory results as far as root pain is concerned. Strong motivation and appropriate deals with residual lumbar pain which was absent or kept under control in 85% of all cases. Surgery can be successfully carried out after nucleolysis, when an adherent root and/or an extruded fragment is responsible of the failure.