Percutaneous nucleotomy: a new interventional radiological technique for lumbar disk removal

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Neurosurgery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Radicular back pain significantly impacts patient quality of life.
• Existing surgical and microsurgical techniques have varying success rates and complication profiles.
• Minimally invasive treatment options are sought to improve outcomes and reduce patient burden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous nucleotomy (Onik-procedure) for treating radicular back pain.
• To compare the outcomes of percutaneous nucleotomy with established surgical methods.
• To determine the optimal indications and procedural parameters for successful percutaneous nucleotomy.

Main Methods:

• Percutaneous nucleotomy performed on 84 patients under fluoroscopic guidance.
• Correlation of results with data from surgical and microsurgical interventions (with and without endoscopic control).
• Detailed fluoroscopic monitoring and documentation of the procedure.

Main Results:

• Percutaneous nucleotomy outcomes demonstrated strong correlation with other surgical techniques.
• Good to excellent results achieved in 70-80% of patients when precise indications and technique were followed.
• The procedure was found to be safe, relatively simple, and associated with no major complications.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous nucleotomy is a valuable interventional radiological technique for radicular back pain.
• Careful patient selection and meticulous technique under fluoroscopic control are key to achieving high success rates.
• This minimally invasive approach is poised to become an important component of radicular back pain treatment strategies.