Percutaneous Discectomy
Percutaneous Discectomy (Nucleoplasty) is a treatment for a herniated disc. Patients who qualify for this procedure must meet certain medical criteria and suffer from back and lumbar radicular pain.
Patients who may benefit from discectomy include:
- Patients with persistent back and /or lumbar radicular pain with documented herniated discs and have had a good response from epidural injections but without long term effect or reoccurance of symptoms.
- Patients that failed conservative therapy.
- Patients who have a positive findings on discogram.
Conscious sedation will be provided by an anesthesiologist you are to refrain from eating 8 hrs prior to the procedure.
Medications may be taken with a sip of water up to three hours before your procedure. You will need an escort to drive you home. You will be positioned on your stomach. X ray flouroscopy pictures will be taken through out the procedure for precise placement of the catheter into the disc.
The procedure takes approximately1 hour and recovery is usually 1-2 hours.
There is very little discomfort associated with the procedure and most patients have immediate relief after the procedure. Many patients can resume work or normal activity several days after the procedure.
A specific physical therapy program will be prescribed for 12 weeks after procedure.
The procedure is not painful but patients may occasionally experience temporary low back or neck pressure sensations for a short period after injection.
