Salvage Operation for Persistent Low Back Pain and Sciatica Induced by Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression Performed at Outside Institution: Correlation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Intraoperative and Pathological Findings

Objective: We identified several problems associated with percutaneous lumbar disc decompression (PLDD) based on a study of patients who required salvage operations for complications after undergoing PLDD at an outside institution. Background Data: PLDD has been performed as a new treatment for intervertebral disc herniation in recent years, and its safety and effectiveness are in the process of being established. Because the procedure is simple to perform under local anesthesia, inappropriate irradiation and application to patients for whom it is not indicated have sometimes resulted in a poor outcome and serious complications. Methods: The patients comprised 10 with lumbar disc herniation and three with lumbar spondylolisthesis. We analyzed the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and operative findings as well as the pathological features of surgically obtained disc specimens and studied their relationships with the clinical outcomes of the operations. Results: Initial examination of all patients at our hos...