Percutaneous lumbar discectomy using the Dekompressor system under CT-control

In recent years, new minimally invasive therapies for the treatment of radicular pain associated with contained disc herniation have been introduced. These techniques have changed the field of interventional pain management. In a prospective, nonrandomized case study, we treated patients using the Dekompressor system guided by computed tomography instead of fluoroscopy. Pain scores, analgesic usage, and activities of daily living were assessed via structured telephone interviews 6 and 12 months after the procedure. Sixty-four patients were treated at 76 lumbar levels. Follow-up data after 12 months were obtained for all patients. The average reported pain level as measured by visual analog scale was 7.3 before the procedure and 2.1 after 12 months. Before the procedure, 61 patients (95%) used opioid or nonopioid analgesics regularly; after 1 year, a reduction in analgesic use was seen in 51 patients (80%). None of the patients reported procedure-related complications. When standardized patient selection criteria are used, treatment of patients with radicular pain associated with contained disc herniation using the Dekompressor can be a safe and efficient procedure.