[Percutaneous surgery of the lumbar disk]

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Spinal Procedures
• Interventional Radiology

Context:

• Traditional interlaminar discectomy often leads to significant fibrosis.
• Developing alternative surgical techniques is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Urological surgical equipment offers potential for novel applications in spine surgery.

Purpose:

• To describe a percutaneous discectomy technique utilizing equipment adapted from urological surgery.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of an extra-spinal approach for disc removal.
• To compare the risk of fibrosis with percutaneous versus interlaminar discectomy.

Summary:

• Percutaneous discectomy is performed using dilators and optic fibers, adapted from urological surgery.
• This extra-spinal technique empties the intervertebral disc under local anesthesia.
• It significantly reduces the risk of fibrosis, a common complication of interlaminar discectomy.

Impact:

• Offers a potentially safer alternative to traditional discectomy, minimizing post-operative fibrosis.
• Highlights the versatility of existing surgical tools in new medical fields.
• Provides evidence for discussing percutaneous discectomy as an option alongside chemonucleolysis.