Automated percutaneous nucleotomy in the treatment of cervicobrachial neuralgia due to disc herniation.

Forty-five patients suffering from cervicobrachial neuralgia resistant to medical treatment were treated by automated percutaneous nucleotomy according to the technique used by Onik et al. in the lumbar segment of the spine. Good results were obtained with this technique in 85% of the patients. This figure is similar to that reported for nucleorthesis without the risk of calcification mentioned in the literature.