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Abstract
Background and Aims Percutaneous disc decompression with laser is indicated in cases where increased intradiscal pressure is identified as the main etiology of discogenic low back pain. These techniques include percutaneous disc decompression with euthermic discolysis with Holmium YAG laser (Discolux®). This reduces the compression of the nervous structures and decreases the stimulation of pain receptors, thus achieving an analgesic effect. Technique is indicated in patients that keep the nucleus pulposus hydrated (Pfirmann I-III). Extruded or non-contained hernias are excluded. Our aim is to describe the results obtained from the 18 cases that underwent percutaneous disc decompression with euthermic laser.
Methods We followed all the patients scheduled for laser euthermic discolysis (Discolux ®) from June 2022 to May 2023 in our center. We asked the participants about their VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) before and after the intervention. Afterward, we group them according to their Pfirmmann classification. The results are presented below.
Results The technique was performed in a total of 18 patients, all of them diagnosed with lumbar hernia by magnetic resonance. In the corresponding tables, we showed the collected data.
We observe the mean VAS prior to the intervention and the total pain reduction in the population after the procedure
Once we divide the population according to Pfirmmann’s classification we observe that the groups that get the most benefit are also the ones in which the technique is indicated
The time spent after the technique also seems to be important. We observe a tendency the results keep improving until the 6th month after the technique, but after this time, the improvement is more limited
Conclusions Limitations coming from the type of study are clear, but as we can see in the results, it can be a promising technique if the indication is correct, also we find a tendency depending on the time passed after the technique. We find reductions in pain by 46%. Although more studies are necessary to prove the technique’s real impact, we insist that the correct indication is mandatory for better results.