Clinical Experience with Percutaneous Nucleotomy

Recently percutaneous nucleotomy (PN) has been paid attention to as an excellent procedure for uncomplicated herniated lumbar discs.We have performed PN on 16 patients, which were followed up for a short period. Twelve out of 16 patients showed good results and others were unsuccessful. Two of unsuccessful group went on to further surgical procedures, in which we observed fibrous membrane around nerve root in one patient and herniated mass beneath S1 root in the other.We suppose the factor of age influences upon the efficasy of PN, because younger patients less than 30 years old undertaken this procedure showed good course in our study.The mean value of removed nucleus pulposus in successful group was 0.67g, ranged from 0.1g to 1.6g. So we believe that less than 1g resection of the disc is sufficient to reduce clinical symptom.