Percutaneous laser disk decompression – our experience with the usage of the diode laser

Introduction: PLDD (Percutaneous laser disk decompression) is a safe, non-destructive and successful surgical treatment for lumbar disk herniation. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of advantages in the procedure of percutaneous laser disk decompression in the treatment of lumbar disk herniation in comparison to open surgical methods on lumbar disk herniation like microdisectomy. Patients: From June 2008 till July 2009 in the Clinical hospital “Sister of Mercy” Zagreb 91 patients have been treated with percutaneous laser disk decompression and 125 patients have been treated with microdisectomy. Methods: The percutaneous laser disk decompression is done with the usage of a diode laser (LASE maR 1000), intensity of 1000 j, power 12 W and wave length 980 nm. Open surgical methods for lumbar disk herniation are performed with the surgical technique microdisectomy. The input criterion for the research was the adulthood of the examinee and advanced herniation of the intervertebral disk in the lumbar spine, which needed surgical treatment. The analysed parameters were: success of the surgical treatment; relapsing lumbar disk herniations; postsurgical complications; postsurgical stay in the hospital; time needed to return to every-day activities. The data achieved with the analyses of input and output parameters have been compared with the help of the MacNab criteria. There have not been found any statistically significant results in the comparison of data for age, sex and the stage of intervertebral disk herniation in both groups. This is a retrospective research and lasted 12 months. Results: Patients treated with the percutaneous laser disk decompression had in 89,6 % (n=81) very good or excellent results and were satisfied with the success of the treatment. In the group of patients treated with microdisectomy the number of patients, UDK 616.711-007.43-089 Review Received: 14. 01. 2009. Accepted: 16. 09. 2009.