Percutaneous Disc Nucleoplasty is minimally invasive surgery to reduce the volume of a bulging or herniated disc. In both cases the spinal disc puts pressure on a nerve root or the spinal cord and causes back pain or sciatic pain.
Spinal Disc Protrusions do not require open spine surgery
Many patients with back pain show no clear indication of a herniated disc. However with MRI investigation protrusion of the intervertebral discs can be diagnosed. This protrusion can put pressure on nerves or the spinal cord and can cause persistent, or stress-related chronic back pain. Normally this kind of back pain (lumbar or cervical), responds well to conservative treatment options.
When will your neurosurgeon consider Nucleoplasty?
If after six weeks, conservative treatment has not been successful, your spine specialist should consider an intradiscal procedure: The disc protrusion can be reduced by treating the liquid core of the spine simply by using an injection needle. This needle (cannula) allows a radiofrequency instrument to enter the core of the disc, thereby avoiding all the surgical risks associated with open back surgery. This is essentially the principle of the Nucleoplasty.
Nucleoplasty, as a minimally invasive treatment, covers only smaller disc herniations or disc bulges that have not yet broken through the solid fibre ring of the disc and are therefore are not accessible via an open surgical procedure (surgical removal of the disc material).
Endoscopic Nucleoplasty is safe for patients and is a minimally invasive procedure, which produces very good outcomes, without the risks and postsurgical complications associated with open back surgery.
Disc Nucleoplasty is performed on an outpatient basis, with minimal anesthesia requirements. Fluoroscopic guidance is employed as an introducer needle is placed at the nucleus/annulus junction. A SpineWand is introduced through the passage way, and advanced into the disc nucleus. Using Coblation, tissue is then removed by either creating channels (lumbar spine) or spheres (cervical spine). After sufficient tissue is removed, a bandage is placed on the skin and the patient is discharged home. Patients are then usually placed on a routine rehabilitation program.
Nucleoplasty is recommended for patients who have not responded to rest, medical intervention (including steroid injection), and/or physical therapy.
There are many people across the world who suffers from slipped disc problem. In 90 per cent of these cases, the disc prolapsed is contained or limited to the disc space and are not suitable for the traditional discectomy surgery involving the complete removal of the diseased disc. The open surgery is an overkill leading to unsatisfied results, more complications and costly procedure.
In such clinical circumstances, percutaneous treatment also known as disc nucleoplasty has emerged as the best alternative. Moreover the cost of Disc Nucleoplasty at Medworldindia affiliated hospitals in India is minimal. Conventionally the disc prolapse is treated with bed rest and analgesics but with limited relief.
Many successful Nucleoplasty procedures have been performed in India. This minimally invasive approach to treating contained disc herniations has helped most of the International patients return to active and productive lives with effective cost savings.
Expert Neuro and Spine Surgeons in India who have ample experience in performing this procedure said that, “Spinal Surgery is fast becoming a major sub-speciality in neurosurgery”. Disc nucleoplasty is an innovative percutaneous method of healing disc disease. Disc prolapse can occur in lumbar as well cervical region causing low back pain, radiating pain and neck pain respectively. Related symptoms are excruciating pain, numbness, tingling sensation in hands and legs, burning and weakness of the limbs. The patient will have restricted movement, walking, bending and doing normal day to day activities becomes very difficult. The severe pain results in incapacitation leading to loss of man hours.
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