Treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with coblation combined with ozone nucleus pulposus ablation

Objective:To compare the clinical effects between coblation combined with ozone nucleus pulposus ablation and single radiofrequency ablation of nucleus pulposus in treating a simple segment inclusive lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Methods:From June 2009 to June 2011,33 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were treated with coblation combined with ozone nucleus pulposus ablation(group A),including 19 males and 14 females,ranging in age from 20 to 60 years old with an average of(40.4±8.8) years old,in the course of disease from 12 to 38 months with an average of(19.9±5.8) months;31 patients were treated with single radiofrequency ablation of nucleus pulposus(group B),including 18 males and 13 females,ranging in age from 20 to 60 years old with an average of(39.8±7.3) years old,in the course of disease from 12 to 48 months with an average of(19.2±8.1) months. Visual analogue score(VAS) and JOA score system was respectively used to evaluate pain and function after operation. Results:All patients were followed up more than1 year. No injuries of nerve root and cauda equina nerve,infection were found. There was no significant difference in VAS score between two groups at 1 month after operation(P0.05),but at 12 months after operation,VAS score of group A was better than that of group B(P0.05). There was no significant difference in JOA score between two groups at 12 months after operation(P0.05). According to the functional improvement rate to evaluate the clinical effects,in group A,9 cases got excellent results,21 good,3 fair;and in group B,6 excellent,18 good,7 fair. Clinical effects of group A was better than that of group B(P0.05). Conclusion:Clinical effects of coblation combined with ozone nucleus pulposus ablation is better in treating a simple segment inclusive lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.