Chronic low back pain and lower extremity radicular pain caused by a hernia, are the most common spinal diseases, and two of the debilitating diseases of human societies. 60% -80% of patients experiencing radicular pain for the first time, reach a level of pain that they can no longer tolerate. radicular pain often results from nerve root inflammation. The most common cause of radicular pain in the lumbar region is disc herniation. Disc herniation can cause nerve root compression. The pain may be acute from the outset, or the pain may increase over time. Laser disk decompression (PLDD) is one of the so-called “minimally invasive” treatments for lumbar disc herniation. In this treatment, the laser beam is directed through the surface of the body to the disc with the help of optical fibers. The heat generated by the laser can also be controlled. Therefore, laser radiation is a reliable and perfect technology for cutting cellular tissues of the body, and does not cause any gaps in the skin! Laser-assisted disc surgery is a minimally invasive procedure and is performed in patients who require surgical intervention for disc herniation. This treatment is effective for people with protruding disc disease. The discs that have not yet moved up or down and have not been removed from the cartilage. Discs that separate from the cartilage usually fall into the spinal canal, and cannot be easily treated. The purpose of PLDD, or skin laser disc decompression, is to evaporate a small portion of the disk nucleus (nucleus pulposus) and create a space in that area, allowing the disk to eject backward and inward. As a result, pressure on the nerve roots is reduced and pain is controlled. In this technique, although a very small portion of the disk’s core evaporates, the same small amount has many effects on improving the disk and restoring it to normal.
What is the most important feature of this treatment?
The use of PLDD has less adhesion and morbidity compared to invasive surgery. Since lumbar disc closure surgery is performed by guiding concurrent and live fluoroscopic images from the disc site and only through the needle, it reduces the side effects of lumbar disc surgery and ultimately reduces the cost of surgery.
Do You Know the Benefits of PLDD Lumbar Disc Treatment?
In addition to treating disc disease and removing post-operative adhesions, this treatment has other benefits, such as: • Radicular pain relief and low back pain • Improving the functional status of the patient • Better patient collaboration in physiotherapy • Reduce analgesic use • Improving the quality of life In this way, the patient does not need to be hospitalized. Recovery is less than open spine surgery. This procedure is also repeatable and, if necessary, open surgery can be performed afterward. The rate of nerve injury after PLDD is much lower than that of open surgery. Many complications that may occur during open surgery for the patient will be eliminated with PLDD. As a result, it can be considered as a safe and valid alternative to open surgery.