Objective: To study the surgical outcome of outpatient percutaneous microde
compressive endoscopic cervical discectomy with lower energy laser for shri
nkage of disc material (thermodiskoplasty).
Method: Since 1994, 200 patients with herniated cervical discs have present
ed at the authors' clinic, with unilateral radicular pain. The diagnosis wa
s confirmed by MRI or CT, and EMG.
Results: At an average follow-up of 25 months, 94.5% of the cases had good-
to-excellent results. Eleven patients (5.5%) remained symptomatic, with per
sistent neck and upper extremity pain associated with paresthesias. There w
ere no significant postoperative complications. Average time before returni
ng to work was 10 days.
Conclusions: Percutaneous microdecompressive endoscopic cervical discectomy
with laser thermodiskoplasty has proven to be a safe and efficacious minim
ally invasive procedure.