Spinal surgery for lumbar disc herniation can require weeks of recovery and fusion of the spine, which decreases mobility. Laser surgery is performed with a small needle that is placed directly into the damaged disc to decompress it. The procedure, called percutaneous laser discectomy decompression, requires a short hospital stay and rapid recovery. This laser spine surgery can cause complications.
Aseptic Diskitis
Lasers generate heat. Laser applied to the interior of a herniated or bulging disc reduces the water content of the disc and changes the protein structure of the disc, permanently decreasing its ability to absorb water. Reducing the volume of the disc reduces herniation and pressure on nearby nerves, thereby reducing pain, according to the January 2006 "American Journal of Neuroradiology." Heating of the disc or nearby vertebrae can cause aseptic diskitis, inflammation of the disc not caused by infection.
Septic Diskitis
Because a needle is introduced directly into the disc through a small tube, bacteria can potentially be introduced into the spine. Septic diskitis, or infection in the disk, can be reduced with strict sterile technique and prophylactic administration of antibiotics directly into the spine at the time of surgery, the "American Journal of Neuroradiology" states.
Failure Rates
A Nursing Link review found failure rates of 21 percent among 333 patients. Of these, 72 required repeat surgical repair with open discectomy and achieved subsequent pain relief. Eleven patients had repeat percutaneous laser discectomy decompression, with seven having a good result. Four to six months post-operatively, one-third of patients in the group had a slight to moderate decrease in the degree of disc herniation.
Member Comments