Nerubay J, Caspi I, Levinkopf M
Spinal Deformities Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1997 Apr(337):45-8. doi: 10.1097/00003086-199704000-00006.
A prospective study of 50 patients with low back and radicular pain caused by an L4-L5 protruded disc were treated by percutaneous laser nucleolysis with a carbon dioxide laser. The followup ranged from 2 to 5 years, and all the patients were evaluated clinically and by imaging with computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance images before and after the procedure. According to the Macnab criteria, 74% of the patients had excellent or good results and 26% had fair or poor results. The laser disc decompression opens up new options in the treatment of discogenic pain, but it is still an experimental procedure.
