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Nucleoplasty

Nucleoplasty is a minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure that has been developed to help decompress bulging discs in the back or neck. While not effective against ruptured discs or other degenerative disc disorders, the procedure seems to be an appealing alternative to traditional open-back surgery in limited bulging disc cases. This is because nucleoplasty is extremely precise and requires very little post-operative recovery.

Like the IDET technique, nucleoplasty is a procedure available to a segment of the population suffering from back and neck pain caused by a minor bulging disc. To determine whether a patient is a candidate for this procedure requires a physical examination and the use of medical imagery. The completion of an MRI or CT scan is particularly important for ensuring that the bulging disc isn’t a result of an underlying problem (such as arthritis or another chronic disease). If it is determined that the patient is in fact suffering from a bulging disc, and conservative treatments have proven ineffective, then a surgeon may suggest a nucleoplasty.

A nucleoplasty offers pain relief by reducing the swelling of a bulging disc, which in turn reduces nerve compression. During the procedure:

• Local anesthesia is administered to the patient
• A needle is inserted into the patient and the probe is positioned in the bulging disc space
• A catheter is then inserted through the needle into the disc
• The tip of the catheter generates a plasma field in the disc
• This disintegrates disc material, shrinking the disc back down to size

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All told, this procedure takes less than 30 minutes and the patient can walk out of the operating room after a short rest. This procedure also greatly limits the risks typically associated with traditional open back surgery, such as infection, blood clots, and hemorrhaging.

The important caveat is that the operation is only effective for treating certain bulging back discs or enclosed herniated discs, not discs that have already ruptured. That said, nucleoplasty could be an option for individuals whose back pain meets these basic requirements. For more information about effective, minimally-invasive endoscopic procedures for the spine, contact the award-winning staff at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) for a free MRI or CT scan review. Relief may be closer than you thought.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.