Chemonucleolysis vs laminectomy.

Three hundred and nine patients having herniated nucleus pulposus syndrome were treated by chemonucleolysis with chymopapain. We analyzed the results of that treatment in the first 100 patients who had been followed up for two years. No significant allergic reactions, deaths, spinal cord injury or paralysis occurred. One patient had pulmonary embolus and another had a disk space infection. Diskitis did not occur. Of the 100 patients receiving chymopapain, 71% of the results were rated good to excellent; of those in a comparably followed-up group of 100 patients who underwent surgery, 63% of the results were rated good to excellent. The end result was achieved more quickly after chemonucleolysis and with less physiologic stress on the patient. The beneficial result was considered to be long lasting, and in our opinion, the quality of the end result was superior after chemonucleolysis.