AUTOMATED PERCUTANEOUS DISKECTOMY FOR REHERNIATIONS OF LUMBAR DISKS

Ten patients with lumbar disc reherniation at the same level as the on e previously openly operated on were treated by automated percutaneous discectomy (APD). The results after follow-up for 2.5 years, on the a verage, showed 70% with complete or significant pain relief, 60% with motor deficit improvement, and 22% with improvement of sensory deficit . Included among the patients who had pain relief were two of three in whom discography had produced only a small amount of pain, but only o ne of two in whom the contrast material showed contained epidural leak . To reduce the unsuccessful results, patients with segmental instabil ity or spinal stenosis after open surgery should not be treated b APD.