Transarticular Laser Discal Fragmentectomy. A New Minimally Invasive Surgical Approach for Challenging Disc Herniations in the Elderly. Issue 5 (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonaldi, Giuseppe; Brembilla, Carlo; Foresti, Camillo; Cianfoni, Alessandro
• Is Part Of: Interventional neuroradiology. Volume 20:Issue 5(2014)
• Page Start: 555
• Page End: 563
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: disc herniation -- percutaneous disc decompression -- laser; Nervous system -- Interventional radiology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Radiography -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals -- radiography; Neuroradiography -- Periodicals; Radiography, Interventional -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Radiography; Periodicals; 617.4805
• DOI: 10.15274/INR-2014-10085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1591-0199

Abstract

This report describes two elderly patients with large disc fragments extruded into lumbar radicular recesses not treatable by any conventional conservative, minimally invasive or surgical approach. Direct access to the disc fragments was obtained crossing the articular zygapophyseal cavity instead of the interlaminar space and spinal canal, using a small needle through which a laser fibre was inserted to deliver energy for tissue ablation. The procedures obtained regression of both symptoms and the bulk of the fragments at early and late clinical and MR follow-ups.