A new randomized, controlled study published in The Spine Journal found percutaneous laser disc decompression, then surgery if needed, had similar outcomes to surgery.
The researchers examined 57 patients randomly allocated to have PLDD and 58 patients who had conventional surgery. The researchers found:
1. The primary outcome on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire was not inferior for PLDD at eight weeks and 52 weeks after surgery.
2. There was a faster recover among patients who underwent the conventional surgical procedures.
3. Performing PLDD made a significant impact on whether patients needed reoperations. The reoperation rate was:
• PLDD group: 38 percent
• Conventional surgery: 16 percent
4. One year after surgery, the PLDD strategy with delayed surgery if needed was associated with non-inferior outcomes to conventional procedures.
5. PLDD is used for disc herniation since gaining FDA approval in 1991.