Autologous chondrocyte transplantation is technically feasible and biologically relevant to repairing disc damage and retarding disc degeneration in animal models. Prospective clinical trials with open discectomy, cultivation of disc cells and transplantation by a minimally invasive procedure are ongoing (co.don chondro-transplant DISC). We used the decompressor (Stryker) for percutaneous lumbar discectomy to harvest disc cells for cultivation. A cannula was placed in the degenerated disc. The 1,5mm decompressor was introduced through the cannula. 0,5–1,5 millilitres of disc material was aspirated. In the laboratory the material was cultured using the patients serum. The cells were expandable. The capacity of the cells to produce matrix molecules was proven in vitro. The percutaneous discectomy of contained discs with signes of early degeneration, the expansion and the transplantation of autologous chondrocytes to the disc might be a possibility of repairing disc damage and retarding disc degeneration

We treated 137 patients with symptomatic lumbar disc prolapse by automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy (APLD). Seventeen (12%) required further operation. At a mean follow-up of 55 months, the success rate was 45%. Of those who had APLD alone, 52% were graded as either excellent or good. In this group, 76% were employed, and the mean Oswestry score was 28.2%. One-third of those patients initially rated as successful had deterioration in symptoms and increased disability from back pain. The Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire revealed that these patients had a chronic ill-health profile

Aims

Open discectomy (OD) is the standard operation for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD), however, has shown similar outcomes to OD and there is increasing interest in this procedure. However despite improved surgical techniques and instrumentation, reoperation and infection rates continue and are reported to be between 6% and 24% and 0.7% and 16%, respectively. The objective of this study was to compare the rate of reoperation and infection within six months of patients being treated for LDH either by OD or PELD.

Background

Percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) has achieved favorable effects in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), as a new surgical procedure. With its wide range of applications, a series of complications related to the operation has gradually emerged.

Purposes of the study and background. The objective of this overview was to evaluate the available evidence from systematic reviews on the effectiveness of surgical interventions for sciatica due to disc herniation. The last search was conducted in 2011. Since then new reviews have been published or existing reviews have been updated. Summary of the methods used and results. A comprehensive search was performed in multiple databases including Cochrane database of systematic reviews (CDSR), Database of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) and Pubmed. Included are Cochrane and non-Cochrane systematic reviews on sciatica due to disc herniation published in peer-reviewed journals. We evaluated surgery versus conservative care and different surgical techniques compared to one another. The methodological quality of the systematic reviews was evaluated using AMSTAR by two independent reviewers. Nine, mostly high quality, systematic reviews on surgical interventions for disc herniation were included. Four reviews compared surgery with conservative treatment and concluded consistently that surgery has only short term benefits while the long term results showed no difference in effect. Four reviews compared open discectomy with micro(endo)scopic discectomy and found no significant and/or clinically relevant differences. The quality of evidence on alternative minimal invasive techniques (laser discectomy, automated percutaneous discectomy, and nucleoplasty or coblation) is consistently low in four recent reviews. Conclusion. Although the quality of the reviews was quite acceptable, the quality of the included studies was mostly poor. The choice between surgical techniques and surgery and conservative intervention should be based on surgeon and patient preferences, among other things

Introduction: Treatment of discitis using conventional methods can be prolonged and unrewarding. Patients can have prolonged pain and persistently elevated Inflammatory markers. We propose a new method of treatment of severe cases, and present two cases where this method has successfully been used. Method: Once discitis has been diagnosed clinically and radiologically, a percutaneous discectomy of the infected level is performed. Matter is sent for microbiological analysis. An epidural catheter is then left in the infected disc space cavity. This is then used to administer appropriate antibiotics directly into the infected cavity. After one week the patient is converted on to intravenous antibiotics, for a further two weeks, then a prolonged course of oral antibiotics. Discussion: Discitis can be a difficult and unrewarding condition to treat. This novel method appears to be a new and effective mode of treatment, for both acute and chronic infections, although it does require further evaluation

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of discitis using conventional methods can be prolonged and unrewarding. Patients can have prolonged pain and persistently elevated Inflammatory markers. We propose a new method of treatment of severe cases, and present two cases where this method has successfully been used. METHOD: Once discitis has been diagnosed clinically and radiologically, a percutaneous discectomy of the infected level is performed. Matter is sent for microbiological analysis. An epidural catheter is then left in the infected disc space cavity. This is then used to administer appropriate antibiotics directly into the infected cavity. After one week the patient is converted on to intravenous antibiotics, for a further two weeks, then a prolonged course of oral antibiotics. DISCUSSION: Discitis can be a difficult and unrewarding condition to treat. This novel method appears to be a new and effective mode of treatment, for both acute and chronic infections, although it does require further evaluation

Introduction. The management of chronic low back pain presents a formidable challenge to the spine specialist. This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous nucleoplasty in patients affected by painful disc protrusions and contained herniations. Materials and Methods. 64 Patient's data collected from 2006 to 2009 in Princess Alexandra hospital. Minimum duration of non-operative care with back pain was 6 months. Patients were considered potential candidates for the study if they reported a clinical syndrome defined by a primary report of low back pain with or without lower extremity referral pain. Results. Out of 64 patients, 54 patient's full data collected. In that 28 male and 26 female with average age of 40.21and 43.11 yrs respectively. 40 patients underwent L45 level, 4 patients at L5S1, 9 patients at L45, L5S1 levels and 1 patient at 3 levels. Average Pre Op back VAS (Visual Analog Score) score 6.66, Leg VAS score 6.14 and Oswestry disability score 45.51. At 6months follow up back VAS score 4.5, Leg VAS score 3.14 and Oswestry disability score 20.03. Longest follow up with average 22 months (range from 12-36 months) with Back VAS score 5.09, Leg VAS score 3.64 and Oswestry disability score 36.25. Average pain reduction is significant - 50%-55%, and patient satisfaction is high - about 90%. Conclusion. By overcoming the limitations of prior methods of percutaneous discectomy, DISC Nucleoplasty has demonstrated the potential to produce equivalent, or even better, outcomes in a procedure that is simpler, quicker, and less traumatic and has faster recovery-times

Lumbar disc herniations are quite common pathology in orthopedics. Percutaneous discectomy remains somewhat controvercial. It has limited indications and has not proven to be as effective as conventional or microscopic discectomy. Smith and Foley developed a new minimum invasive procedure for lumbar disc disease, Microendoscopic Discectomy (MED) in 1995. We started MED from October 1998. Besides, we started the clinical application of MED for lumbar spinal canal stenosis from February 2000. The purpose of the presentations are to present operative technique, early clinical results and complications. A) We operated upon 40 patients of MED from October 1998 to July 2000 for lumbar disc herniations. Male were 25, female were 15, and mean age was 38 years (15~64). In one patient, operated disc level was L2/3, in 21, L4/5, in 16, L5/S, and in two L4/5/S. Methods: We investigated: period of hospital stay, period of hospital stay postoperation, period to return to normal temperature, frequency of postop. NSAID, operation time, blood loss, period to begin to walk, JOA score, period to return to work or school, and complications. Results: The mean hospital stay was 17.9 days, the mean hospital stay postop. 9.7 days, period to return to normal temperature 1.3 days, frequency of postop. NSAID 1.1 times. The mean operation time was 105 ± 42 minutes, (65–180 min). The mean blood loss was 9.7 ± 18.5 Gm. (uncountable~ 120Gm.). All patients began to walk one day postoperatively. Mean JOA score was improved from 10.7 ± 3.8 preop. to 27.6 ± 0.9 4w. postop, to 28.1 ± 0.7 12w. postop., to 28.7 ± 0.6, 24w. postop. The mean period to return to work or school was 22.3 days. In one case, we had liquorrhea, and the damaged dura had to be repaired. B)We operated upon five patients of decompression by MED for lumbar spinal canal stenosis from February 2000 to July 2000. Male were one, female were four, and mean age was 72 years (65–77). In four patient, operated disc level was L4/5, in one, L5/S. We will show the operative procedures by videotape. We investigated – operation time, blood loss, period to begin to walk, JOA score, and complications. Results: The mean operation time was 128+−31 minutes, (85m–170m.). The mean blood loss was 25 ± 29 Gm. (uncountable – 70Gm.). All patients began to walk one day postoperatively. Mean JOA score was improved from 15.7 ± 3.3preop. to 27.5 ± 0.5 4w. postop, to 28.0 ± 0.7 12w. postop.. There was no complication. Discussion: The advantages of MED are small skin incision, less invasion to paravertebral muscles, short bed rest, and rapid return to work. The disadvantages are loss of deep perception and technical demands. To overcome the disadvantages, we are developping the 3D MED, and we are organizing live pig seminar biannually. Conclusion: MED has several advantages i,e, small skin incision, less invasion to paravertebral muscles, short bed rest, and rapid return to work. We need proper knowledge and technique about endoscopic surgery, and laboratory training by live pig and cadaver. MED can be applied to the decompression surgery for lumbar spinal canal stenosis

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the results of Micro Endoscopic Discectomy (MED) toMicro Surgical Discectomy (MSD). Methods: 12 Patients were reviewed by an independent observer. This included the þrst 6 patients who underwent MED and 6 patients who underwent MSD selected randomly. There was no signiþcant difference between the two groups concerning age and sex distribution, occupation, preoper-ative time of work and clinical symptomatology. The disc herniations were located at L4-5 in 6 patients and L5-S1 in 6 patients. Patients were followed up for an average of 9 months (Range 2–22 months). They were assessed using the following questionnaires Oswestry low back pain and disability, Modiþed Gre-enough and Fraser and Mc Nab. Results: Both groups faired equally according to Mc Nab. The MED group appeared to require less postoperative analgesia especially opioid based preparations and were discharged earlier. The only complication was one patient in the MED requiring conversion to MSD. Conclusion: Our results indicate that MED is at least as effective as MSD, although it initially takes longer to perform due to the learning curve. However, the decrease in postoperative analgesia requirements and earlier discharge is beneþcial. In addition, we feel it has advantages over the percutaneous posterolateral discectomy for nerve root compression, which cannot treat sequestrated discs, or patients with disc herniations associated with recess stenosis

Purpose: Since 1990, we have used specific material, presented to us by T. Tajima (Japan) during his visit in 1989 for percutaneous surgical cervical discectomy. French material was developed in 1992. The purpose of this work is to present our experience with this technique over the last ten years. Material and methods: Indications were cervicobrachial neuralgia unresponsive to medical care and secondary to MRI or CT documented cervical disc herniation. We used the right anterolateral approach guided with the image amplifier for patients under local anaesthesia and neuroleptanalgesia ou general anaesthesia. A guide wire was positioned in the centre of the anterior aspect of the disc to insert a 2.5 mm working tube in the middle of the disc. A special trephin with an inverted inside thread induced an aspiration effect when turned into the disc, in line with the posterior wall of the vertebra. This enabled removal of several “carrots” measuring 1 to 2 cm long of discal or even disco-osteophytic material. The removal of the posterior third of the disc and the herniation was completed with a fine disc forceps. Results: There were 85 procedures in 82 patients, mean age 42 years (35 women, 47 men): 57 at one level, mainly C5C6, 27 at two levels simultaneously, and one at three levels during the same operation. Mean follow-up for the 80 results known was 15 months (3–90 months). There were nine failures (two required conventional surgical fusion), 14 fair results, and 57 good results, giving a total of 88.75% good and fair results. Unlike percutaneous surgical lumbar discectomy, where good results at three months may deteriorate at two years, good results at three months after percutaneous cervical discectomy remained good at two years. Discussion: This technique provides results as good as chemonucleolysis. An advantage of the technique that allergy or disco-osteophytic protrusions are not contraindications. We did not have any infection or injury to neighbouring tissue. Conclusion: When rigorous operative procedures are used in this area with potential risk, percutaneous surgical cervical discectomy can be a useful routine therapeutic tool

We carried out a study to determine the effect of facet tropism on the development of adolescent and adult herniation of the lumbar disc. We assessed 149 levels in 140 adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years and 119 levels in 111 adults aged between 40 and 49 years with herniation. The facet tropism of each patient was measured at the level of the herniated disc by CT.

There was no significant difference in facet tropism between the herniated and the normal discs in both the adolescent and adult groups, except at the L4-L5 level in the adults. Facet tropism did not influence the development of herniation of the lumbar disc in either adolescents or adults.

There are few reports on the treatment of pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis through the posterior approach using a single incision. Between October 1999 and March 2003 we operated on 18 patients with pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis. All underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion using an autogenous bone graft from the iliac crest and pedicle screws via a posterior approach. The clinical outcome was assessed using the Frankel neurological classification and the criteria of Kirkaldy-Willis. Under the Frankel classification, two patients improved by two grades (C to E), 11 by one grade, and five showed no change. The Kirkaldy-Willis functional outcome was excellent in five patients, good in ten and fair in three. Bony union was confirmed six months after surgery in 17 patients, but in one patient this was not achieved until two years after operation. The mean lordotic angle before operation was 20° (−2° to 42°) and the mean lordotic angle at the final follow-up was 32.5° (17° to 44°). Two patients had a superficial wound infection and two a transient root injury. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with an autogenous iliac crest bone graft and pedicle screw fixation via a posterior approach can provide satisfactory results in pyogenic spondylodiscitis.