15watts Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression

Percutaneous laser disc decompression procedure

Percutaneous laser disc decompression procedure A CT was performed in order to locate the level of the affected disc, to guide needle placement exactly within the nucleus pulposus and to visualize intradiscal vaporization.

Cherylas 30W 980nm diode laser, portable, operated in pulsed. Laser energy was transmitted through a contact optical fiber (400 m), sterile and flexible. After disinfection of the area, local anesthetic with lidocaine was injected under CT guidance at the entry point of the needle a through the deep fascia and muscle layers, under CT guidance, a fine hollow 18G needle was then placed centrally in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, The needle was removed and, once verified, a 400 m sterile optical fiber with a proximal mark to prevent penetration of the tip more than 1 cm beyond the end of the needle was inserted into the needle.15 W of laser energy were delivered in 0.5---1 s pulses with 4---5 s pauses to allow heat dissipation and avoid or minimize the pain caused by the heat. Careful monitoring of patient discomfort is absolutely necessary, and the pulse rate should be increased if the patient experiences discomfort.The laser energy delivered ranged between 1000 and2000 J, depending on the level of the herniated disc,and the formation of vaporized gas within the disc was also valuated.

Conditions treat with minimally-invasive Cherylas laser procedure:

• Annular tear
• Disc degeneration
• Disc herniation (disc bulge, disc protrusion, disc extrusion, slipped disc)
• Pinched nerve
• Facet joint disease
• Sciatica
• Low-back pain

The features of PLDD:

・Hardly bleeding

・Local anesthesia

・Operation time is very short, about 15 minutes per place

・Almost no scar will remain

・Hospitalization is not needed

・Not suitable for all types of herniation

・Improvement rate is approximately 80% (Numbness in lower limb may remain in some cases)

・In severe cases, another treatment might be added

・There is a possibility of causing a reactive radiculitis or discitis or  infection in the rare thermal stimulation