What is Percutaneous Cervical/Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy with Laser Thermodiskoplasty?
Percutaneous Cervical Microdecompression Endoscopic Cervical/Lumbar Discectomy with Laser Thermodiscoplasty, is a new procedure to shrink and remove a herniated disc. Using brief general (cervical) or local (lumbar) anesthesia and the help of x-rays for guidance, specially designed micro-instruments, the discectome and a laser probe are inserted into the herniated disk space, and a portion of the offending disk is removed with suction and then vaporization with a laser to shrink the disc further, instead of open surgery. Top view of herniaged lumbar disc. Percutaneous cervical/lumbar discectomy is different from standard disk surgery because there is no muscle dissection, bone removal, bone fusion, or incision, except for a puncture wound to accommodate the micro-instruments that are inserted into the herniated disk. Most complications that occur with conventional surgery, therefore, are eliminated with this procedure.
