• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 2005

Background: Radicular pain, associated with herniated intervertebral disc, has been treated with either conservative treatments or a traditional surgical discectomy. Several modalities for minimally invasive percutaneous procedures have been developed as alternatives to a surgical discectomy. Percutaneous decompression using a $Dekompressor^{(R)}$ probe has been recently introduced. Herein, we report the outcome of percutaneous decompression with a $Dekompressor^{(R)}$ for the treatment of a herniated intervertebral disc. Methods: Between August 2004 and April 2005, percutaneous decompression was performed using a $Dekompressor^{(R)}$, 1.5-mm percutaneous lumbar discectomy probe in 17 patients with a herniated lumbar intervertebral disc resistant to conservative treatments, with the results reviewed retrospectively. The procedure was performed under fluoroscopic guidance after local anesthesia. Disc access was gained with a posterolateral approach on the symptomatic side and intradiscal placement of the discectomy probe in the herniated disc confirmed from the anteroposterior and lateral views on the fluoroscopy. Results: We obtained satisfactory clinical results in 14 patients with a decrease in the initial Visual analogue scale (VAS) of more than 55% and the elimination or reduction of analgesic medication, with a follow-up of 3 to 11 months. Conclusion: We concluded that a percutaneous discectomy with a $Dekompressor^{(R)}$ probe might be an effective alternative for the treatments of painful disc herniations resistant to conservative managements when performed under proper selection criteria.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.253-256
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• 2006

Cervical disc herniation is one of the most common causes of neck, shoulder and arm pain. There are many treatments for a cervical disc herniation, such as rest, physical therapy, medication, epidural steroid injection and surgery. However, conservative treatments sometimes have limited effectiveness, and a surgical discectomy is often associated with numerous complications. Nowadays, a percutaneous discectomy, using a $Dekompressor^{(R)}$, has been used in herniated disc patients, but a posterolateral extruded disc is not an indication. Herein, our experience using a 19 G $Dekompressor^{(R)}$, on a 52 year-old male patient with a left C6-⁣7 posterolateral extruded disc, is reported. Decompression was successfully performed, and the pain and range of motion was immediately improved.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2005

Background: Discogenic leg pain is a major cause of health problems, often due to herniation of the intervertebral disc, and has traditionally been treated conservatively or with an open surgical discectomy. Conventional open surgery has many complications, such as nerve root injury, discitis and a relatively high mortality rate; failure of conservative treatments is also common. Recently, the $Dekompressor^{(R)}$ Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy probe was developed. Herein, we present the early results for a percutaneous lumbar discectomy in herniated lumbar disc disease. Methods: Eleven patients, including 8 men and 3 women, with ages ranging from 22 to 78 years, were enrolled in this study. Those patients with a previous history of back surgery were not excluded from the study. All patients were postoperatively evaluated for their clinical outcomes, such as visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain after 1 and 3 months, reduction in analgesics, functional improvement and overall satisfaction. Results: The percutaneous lumbar discectomy was completed in 11 patients (17 levels), with average reductions in pre-VAS of 61.3 and 60.2% at 1 and 3 months, respectively. Also, 72.7% of patients reported functional improvement, with 81.1% expressing overall satisfaction. There were no procedural related complications. Conclusions: We concluded that a percutaneous lumbar discectomy is a safe and effective treatment modality for a herniated lumbar disc.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.271-274
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• 2005

Cervical radicular pain has been recognized as a common cause of neck, shoulder and arm pain. The initial recommended therapy is based on the medical treatment by anti-inflammatory, analgesic agents, rest, traction and physical therapy. In the case of failure with these therapies, the classical alternative is a surgical discectomy, but this is associated with numerous risks inherent to invasive procedures. As a result, a number of percutaneous intradiscal therapies have developed over the last 3 decades, which have specifically focused on the pathology of the disc. However, these treatments have considerable limitations and success rates, and none allow for the extraction of a quantifiable amount of nucleus pulposus via a 17 gauge introducer using fluoroscopic guidance alone. Herein, we describe our experience using a $Dekompressor^{(R)}$ on a 52 year-old female patient with a cervical disc herniation. Percutaneous decompression in the treatment of cervical disc herniation was successfully performed, with a good outcome.