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Systematic review of percutaneous lumbar mechanical disc decompression utilizing Dekompressor
Vijay Singh1, Ramsin M Benyamin, Sukdeb Datta
1Pain Diagnostics Associates, Niagara, WI, USA. vj@wmpnet.net
Pain Physician
|May 23, 2009
Summary
This systematic review found Level III evidence for the Dekompressor device in lumbar disc decompression. More research is needed to confirm its effectiveness for pain relief and functional improvement.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
Background:
- Minimally invasive techniques for lumbar disc herniation are emerging.
- The Dekompressor, an Archimedes screw device, is one such technique.
- Open discectomy has limitations for contained herniations, and evidence for alternatives is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the clinical effectiveness of the Dekompressor device for mechanical lumbar disc decompression.
- To evaluate pain relief, functional improvement, and psychological status post-procedure.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of English-language studies on the Dekompressor.
- Searches included PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and other relevant sources.
- Study quality assessed using Cochrane and AHRQ criteria; evidence levels based on USPSTF guidelines.
Main Results:
- The level of evidence for the Dekompressor (high RPM device) is Level III according to USPSTF criteria.
- This applies to both short-term (≤1 year) and long-term (>1 year) effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- There is a lack of high-quality randomized and observational studies on the Dekompressor.
- Current evidence (Level III) suggests limited support for mechanical percutaneous disc decompression with this device.
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