• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2005

Background: Over the years, disc surgery has progressively evolved in the direction of decreasing trauma and its invasiveness. Conventional open surgery has many complications, such as scarring, instability, bleeding and a relative high mortality rate. Minimally invasive spinal surgery is now an alternative to a traditional discectomy. Herein, we present an operative technique, and the early results, for a percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy in herniated lumbar disc disease. Methods: 43 patients, including 27 men and 16 women, with ages ranging from 18 to 66 years, were enrolled in this study. All the patients showed a protruded or extruded soft disc herniation at the lumbar level on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. A percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy was applied to the patients, and clinical responses evaluated using MacNab's criteria. Results: 40 patients were regarded as showing successful responses (93.1%), and there were no severe complications, such as a hematoma, nerve injury, postoperative dysesthesia or death. One patient underwent fusion surgery for remnant back pain six month later. Conclusions: We conclude that, in properly selected patients, a percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy is a safe, noninvasive and effective treatment modality for herniated lumbar intervertebral disc disease.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.234-238
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• 2001

Percutaneous laser discectomy has potential advantages over conservative therapy and classical open surgery as a minimally invasive procedure, although clinical experiences are limited. We experienced a patient treated with herniated lumbar discs using Nd：YAG laser. A 55-year-old woman complained of severe back pain with sciatica on L4/5 and L5/S1 dermatome for several months. The MRI finding showed bulging discs at L4/5 and L5/S1. Epidural, transsacral and root block treatments were attempted without effect. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a 14 G biopsy needle was inserted into the L4/5 and L5/S1 disc spaces to the margin of the nucleus pulposus. Laser irradiation for vaporization of tissue was performed at 20 W/second to 1200 J. A laser fiber ($600{\mu}m$) was advanced 1 cm from the tip of the needle. At the end of the procedure, the patient began to feel relief of pain (VAS changed from 9 to 4) and was discharged the same day after staying 2 hours in the recovery room. Antibiotics were administered for prevention of discitis. She had no complaints of pain until the 1-month follow up visit. Percutaneous laser discetomy technique has the disadvantages of expensive equipment, high temperature and amount of vaporing disc tissue is empirical. However, this technique, as one of the therapeutic modalities for disc herniation, provides faster relief from acute attack than conservative management techniques in carefully selected patients with sciatica due to disc prolapse.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2006

Objective : Development of diagnostic tools has resulted in early detection of thoracic disc herniations[TDH] even when the herniated disc is soft in consistency. In some of the cases, it is considered better not to opt for surgical treatment due to the unduly high morbidity and potential complications associated with conventional approaches. The authors have applied percutaneous endoscopic thoracic discectomy[PETD] technique to soft TDHs in order to avoid the morbidity associated with conventional approaches. Methods : Eight consecutive patients [range, 31 to 75 years] with soft lateral or central TDH [from T2-3 to T11-12] underwent PETD between May 2001 and June 2004. The patient was positioned in a prone position with intravenous sedation and local anesthetic infiltration. The authors introduced a cannula into the thoracic intervertebral foramen using endoscopic foraminoplasty technique. Discectomy was performed with mechanical tools and a laser under continuous endoscopic visualization and flu oroscopic guidance. Functional status was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using the Oswestry Disability Index[ODI]. Results : The mean ODI scores improved from 52.8 before the surgery to 25.8 at the final follow-up. In cases of myelopathy, long tract signs showed improvement. The mean operative time was 55 minutes, and no patient required conversion to open surgery. Conclusion : The technique allows a smaller incision and less morbidity. Soft TDH is amenable to this minimally invasive approach in selected patients with myeloradiculopathy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2000

Objective : Percutaneous lumbar approaches such as arthroscopic discectomy, laser discectomy, and nucleotome remain controversial and have technical limitations to free fragment disc, bony pathology and access to L5-S1, The purpose of this study was to determine efficacy of this new endoscopic system and to report techniques and tactics. Methods : From July 1997 to May 1998, we treated 40 consecutive patients(43 levels) with the MED system. Mean age was 32 years(range ; 18 to 62). There were 30 males and 10 females. All patients had sciatica with SLRT limitation. There were 23 patients with disc herniation at L4-5 and 14 patients at L5-S1. Three patients had 2 level disc herniations. There was one far lateral disc herniation at L4-5. Results : Using modified MacNab criteria, there were 37 excellent results and 3 good result. Most patients were discharged within 3-4 days except 2 patients with dural tearing. There were no other complications. Mean operation time was 1.5 hours(range : 40 minutes to 2.5 hours). Conclusion : The MED system is a reliable approach to lumbar disc herniations. This system combines the advantages of conventional open surgery and a minimally invasive technique. As tactics for the doctors who wish to attempt, "palpate" the lamina by first dilator, identification of interlaminar space by removal of overlying soft tissue and confirmation of the shoulder portion of nerve root before discectomy are important to this procedure. We conclude that lumbar disc herniations can be successfully treated with MED approach.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.83-95
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to analyze, durability of motor effort after finishing rehabilitation program and the influence from the isotonic lumbar region extension exercise after an operation according to the different operation way in invasive degrees. We selected randomly 80 patients who have no complication and musculoskeletal system diseases with finishing the 12 weeks' rehabilitation program after getting laser discectomy, but fail to conservative treatment, about Lumbar HNP, and divided into minimal invasive groups 38 and invasive groups 42 for study. As the results, in minimal invasive group, after finishing cure and 6 months later, the degree of hold muscle of women is much better than that of men. but in Invasive group, that of men is better than that of women, in case of women, the $0^{\circ}$ and $72^{\circ}$ in lumbar flexion angle have weaken or no improvement than before beginning exercise. and muscle force in $72^{\circ}$ in lumbar flexion angle increased to all men and women than before beginning exercise in Minimal invasive group. but in invasive group. it decreased. When analyze the lapsed time in Minimal invasive group, the groups who start the exercise within 3 months are better than the groups who start the exercise above 3 months after an operation the hold muscle degree all angles after finishing cure and 6 months later. Meanwhile, in invasive group, the groups who start the exercise within 3 months are better than the groups who start the exercise above 3 months after an operation about the hold muscle degree in 36-72 of lumbar flexion angle but 0-36 are not good after finishing cure and 6 months later. When analyze BMI in Minimal invasive group, the normal groups are better than the overweight groups about hold muscle degree in all angles after finishing cure and 6 months later.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2020

Background: Low back pain secondary to discopathy is a common pain disorder. Multiple minimally invasive therapeutic modalities have been proposed; however, to date no study has compared percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) with intradiscal injection of radiopaque gelified ethanol (DiscoGel^®). We are introducing the first study on patient-reported outcomes of DiscoGel^® vs. PLDD for radiculopathy. Methods: Seventy-two patients were randomly selected from either a previous strategy of PLDD or DiscoGel^®, which had been performed in our center during 2016-2017. Participants were asked about their numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, and progression to secondary treatment. Results: The mean NRS scores in the total cohort before intervention was 8.0, and was reduced to 4.3 in the DiscoGel^® group and 4.2 in the PLDD group after 12 months, which was statistically significant. The mean ODI score before intervention was 81.25% which was reduced to 41.14% in the DiscoGel^® group and 52.86% in the PLDD group after 12 months, which was statistically significant. Between-group comparison of NRS scores after two follow-ups were not statistically different (P = 0.62) but the ODI score in DiscoGel^® was statistically lower (P = 0.001). Six cases (16.67%) from each group reported undergoing surgery after the follow-up period which was not statistically different. Conclusions: Both techniques were equivalent in pain reduction but DiscoGel^® had a greater effect on decreasing disability after 12 months, although the rate of progression to secondary treatments and/or surgery was almost equal in the two groups.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2013

Background: Neuroplasty using a Racz catheter or epiduroscope and percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy are performed as treatment for chronic refractory low back and/or lower extremity pain, but they are limited in that they cannot completely remove the causing pathology. Lately, epiduroscopic laser neural decompression (ELND) has been receiving attention as an alternative treatment, but there are insufficient reports of results. Hence we aimed to investigate and report the data in our hospital. Methods: Seventy-seven patients were selected who had received ELND via the anterior and posterior epidural approach through the pain clinic in our hospital from March 2011 to July 2012. Their medical records including age, diagnosis, epiduroscopic findings and degree of symptom relief were investigated. The degree of symptom relief following the procedure was categorized into 5 stages of very good (5), good (4), no change (3), bad (2), and very bad (1) at 2 weeks and 1 month after the procedure. Results: The subjects were 30 males and 47 females. Mean age was 54.6 for males and 59.6 for females, so the overall mean age was 58.1 years old, with the youngest being 23 and the oldest 88 years old. In epiduroscopic images of all patients, more than one situation of herniated disc, fibrous tissue and adhesion, or inflammation was observed. Sixty-seven patients (87.0%) showed symptom relief 2 weeks after the procedure and 63 patients (81.8%) showed relief after 1 month. Conclusions: ELND is considered to be an effective treatment alternative for chronic refractory low back and/or lower extremity pain, including lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, and failed back surgery syndrome which cannot be alleviated with existing non-invasive conservative treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.45-56
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• 2004

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to know the effects of the postoperative lumbar extensor strengthening exercise program on back muscles strength and volume, pain, and the time of return to work. METHODS: A prospective controlled trial of lumbar extensor exercise program in patients who underwent microdiscectomy or percutaneous endoscopic discectomy for prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc. Seventy-five patients were randomized into exercise group (20 male, 15 female) and non-exercise group (18 male, 22 female). Six weeks after surgery, patients in exercise group undertook a 12-week lumbar extension exercise (MedX) program. Assessment of spinal function was performed in all patients on postoperative 6 weeks, 18 weeks. The assessment included measures of lumbar extensor power, muscle mass of erector spinalis. All patients completed the visual analog scale (VAS) for evaluation of pain, and return to work. RESULTS: In muscle power, there were statistically significant improvements between pre and post test on muscle power in exercise group. But there were not statistically significant difference on muscle power in non-exercise group. In muscle mass, there were statistically significant difference between pre and post test on muscle mass in exercise group. But there were not statistically significant difference on muscle mass in non-exercise group. In the pain, there were statistically significant decrease between pre and post test on both group. But there were not statistically significant difference on fatty tissue and obesity in non-exercise group. The percentages of return to work in postoperative 4 months were significantly greater in the exercise group than in the non -exercise group. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative lumbar extensor strengthening exercise program appears to be more beneficial to the patients who underwent operation for prolapsed lumbar intervertbral disc.