Percutaneous laser discectomy

Percutaneous discectomy, for treatment of lumbar disc herniation, was first described in 1975 by Hijikta. Since its inception, a variety of instruments including rongeurs, augers, automated mechanical devices, and more recently, lasers have been developed to remove tissue from the herniated disc. The advantages of lasers include miniaturized, safe, and efficient energy delivery for percutaneous tissue removal. This article reviews the development of lasers for percutaneous discectomy.