Efficacy of lumbar chemonucleolysis in the treatment of foraminal and extra-foraminal hernias

A retrospective review of 1200 nucleolyses performed over a three year peri od from January 1995 to December 1997 showed 116 discal treatments for fora minal and extra-foraminal localizations. The anatomic localization through the foramen and the intense clinical sign s typify these anatomoclinical forms of lumbar hernia. In contrast with com plex and disruptive surgical core, percutaneous nucleolysis offers a precis e and rapid method which can be per formed in a very short time in outpatie nts with a success rate of 80 %. Most localizations concern L3-L4 and L4-L5 hernias which give the best clinical outcomes.