Percutaneous disc decompression, also known as nucleoplasty, is an outpatient surgery used to relieve sciatica, a type of back pain that radiates down the legs. This surgery is ideal for people with herniated discs that are only mildly compressed and have not yet ruptured. Doctors insert a needle into the problematic disc, deflating it by removing or dissolving tissue and relieving spinal nerve pressure. Percutaneous disc decompression is considered when more conservative treatments like medications, physical therapy and steroid injections have failed to relieve pain. Although risks with this surgery are rare, it is worth understanding them in order to weigh them against the benefits of pain relief.
Mild Risks
Mild risks are considered rare with this surgery, according to healthcentral.com. Discomfort around the site where the needle entered, a headache, as well as some bleeding and/or bruising, is possible. These complications usually disappear within a day or two, and any discomfort can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. In many cases, the surgery pain is relatively mild in comparison to the more intense sciatica pain.
Infection
All surgeries feature the risk of infection, and percutaneous disc decompression is no exception. Although rare, infection of the disk known as discitis could result. Discitis is defined by back.com as a "a low-grade infection that affects the disc space between two vertebrae." The treatment for this would be antibiotics and possibly an additional surgery to rectify the problem.
Nerve Damage
If the heating element of the needle is placed incorrectly and/or gets too close to a nerve root, nerve damage or even paralysis is possible, according to Arizona-based Southwest Spine and Sports. To minimize this risk, a guided imaging machine known as a fluoroscope is used throughout the procedure. In addition, keeping a patient alert with localized anesthesia allows the patient to continue to communicate any discomfort during the procedure that might indicate an error.
