Korean J Anesthesiol.  1999 Nov;37(5):848-853. 10.4097/kjae.1999.37.5.848.

A Study of the Effects of Neuroplasty by Spinal Endoscopy in Herniated Nucleus Pulposus Patients for Therapeutic Purpose

• Choi KH
• Lee SH
• Kim TS
• Kim HS
• Kim KM
• Kim DS

• KMID: 2239025
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1999.37.5.848

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy is a new technique in the field of treatment of herniated nucleus pulposus patients. This new technique allows the operator to visualize directly the epidural space and contiguous structures, thus allowing for detailed examination leading to a better understanding of the role of epidural adhesion in the development of sciatica. The aim of this prospective study is to determine effects of neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy in herniated nucleus pulposus patients.
METHODS
Twelve patients with herniated disc were taken neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy. The patients were followed with verbal rating scale(VRS) for 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after neuroplasty.
RESULTS
Four patients were posterocentral type and eight pateints were posterlateral type. The effects of neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy in posterolateral type were significantly higher than that of posterocentral type. But, age, duration of back pain and amount of irrigation saline were not related to effects of neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that it is important to determine posterocentral type or posterolateral type on MRI before neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy and the effects of treatment is well in posterolateral type.

Keyword

Nerve, neuroplasty, spinal endoscopy; Pain, sciatica

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Endoscopy*
Epidural Space
Humans
Intervertebral Disc Displacement
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Prospective Studies
Sciatica