Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD)
Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is a modern, minimally invasive method of treating intervertebral disc herniation and discogenic pain.
The method is based on the principle of vaporization with the help of thermal energy from a laser, whereby, due to the hydraulic properties of the disc, there is a reduction in pressure in the disc space and a consequent reduction in disc herniation due to the insertion of the disc into the intervertebral space. The thermal energy from the laser also destroys the pain receptors within the disc itself, which are one of the main factors in the development of discogenic pain.
PLDD belongs to minimally invasive treatment methods, and the procedure itself takes about twenty minutes. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, where the patient is awake for the entire duration of the procedure and communicates with the medical staff. The patient is discharged from the health facility a few hours after the procedure.
The advantages of this method over classical treatment methods are a much lower rate of complications, a short procedure duration, quick results, and a quick return to daily activities, without the need for long-term rehabilitation.
Candidates for PLDD:
- severe pain in the arms, legs, lower back, or neck
- pain that does not stop after more than six weeks of conservative treatment such as physical therapy and drug treatment.
- disc herniation in which the integrity of the posterior longitudinal ligament is preserved
- symptoms of disc herniation and neurological signs corresponding to MR findings
- absence of symptom improvement after conservative therapy for at least six weeks
- discogenic back pain
If you have any of the above symptoms, make an appointment with a neurosurgeon in St. Catherine and find out which treatment method would be best for you. Don't suffer the pain, contact us with confidence.
