Percutaneous discectomy for lumbar disc herniation.

Percutaneous discectomy for lumbar disc herniation is a well established, low-risk procedure effective in 70% to 80% of appropriately selected patients. Advantages include the use of local anesthesia, minimal tissue disruption, no epidural fibrosis or scarring, and negligible biomechanical effect. The risk of automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy is significantly less than that of traditional surgery.