Technical aspects of the percutaneous cervical and lumbar laser-disc-decompression and -nucleotomy.

To achieve optimal results during percutaneous cervical and lumbar laser-disc-decompression, technical aspects have to be taken into consideration for this minimally invasive operation. The selection of the laser system is thus most significant. A Neodym-YAG-Laser is applied with a wavelength of 1064 nm which, compared to vaporization, has the prerequisites for shrinking from the experimental viewpoint. Selection of parameters for the application of energy depends on size and position of the cervical and lumbar discs. A needle with a mandrin having an outer cross section of up to 2 mm is used to puncture the disc. An ultrasharp needle tip is important. The approach depends on the section of the vertebral column involved. The insertion of the needle in the cervical discs is from the right side ventral and dorsolateral in thoracic and lumbar regions. In difficult cases of spondylophytes the insertion is helped by the so-called punctual laserosteotomy through the spondylophytes, which does not require any additional equipment at the operating table. The C-bow is sufficient for X-ray equipment and has to be adjusted according to the disc position. This minimal invasive procedure shows a technical failure rate of only 1.5/1000 in 2535 percutaneous laser disc decompressions and nucleotomies. There are two malfunctions of the laser machine and one of the X-ray technique. The PLDN using Nd-YAG 1064 nm is a technically perfect method with a very high standard of safety.