Disc herniation is a disease wich can affect patients of any age. It may result secondary of trauma, from injuries to the spine, different accidents or, in some cases, there isn’t an identified cause ( in this case the disease is know as idiopathic disc herniation).
A herniated disc consists of tiny tears or cracks in the outer layer (annulus or capsule) of the disc. The jellylike material inside the disc (nucleus) may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule, which causes the disc to bulge, break open (rupture), or break into fragments. This is causing severe and constant pain.
Until recently, treatment of an herniated disc included pain drugs, physical therapy and for severe cases treatment consists of surgical procedures associated with prolonged recovery. Both, the disease and treatment, were quality of life affecting.
Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of moderate disc herniation. The doctor use the percutaneous approach and the procedure consists of dissolving a part of affected disc, so his dimension are decreased, and secondary nerve compression is also decreased.
Indications
Nucleoplasty is an alternative of classic, open surgical procedure.
Indications include:
mechanical lombalgie
lombar pain, less radicular pain ( this is a pain following a nerve territory in legs, in the anterior or posterior face of thigh or shank)
failure of medical treatment
disc herniation lesser than 30% of the spinal canal
discal degenerescence proved by imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging
preserved high of the disc
There are also several contraindication, such as
- spinal canal stenosis
- instability
- active infection
- pregnancy
Procedure
Nucleoplasty is performed in our Center of Excellence, in the catheterism labs, under local anesthesia ( with xilin), respecting the asepsy rules.
The patient is asked to lie down on the table, either in a prone position, either on one side of the body. The assistent will clean the requested area with iodine substance and, after, will cover it with sterile fields.
After local anesthesia (with xilin), your doctor will introduce a catheter into the affected disc. Radiowaves are emited through this catheter, so the excess tissue is distroyed and the hernia’s sizes are reduced. Secondary, the pression inside the disc will decrease, so the disc can return to his initial, normal position, without any nerve compression. Also, lowering the pressure significantly decrease the pain or, even the pain disappear.
More information: PONDERAS HOSPITAL
