Continuing experience with chemonucleolysis

Chemonucleolysis using chymopapain is the least invasive technique used to treat a herniated lumbar pulposus. After 37 years of clinical experience, m ultiple clinical trials, a national multicenter, double-blind study mandate d by the Food and Drug Administration, and heated controversy in the scient ific community, the injection of chymopapain to treat herniated discs has ( in appropriately selected patients) proven as successful as laminectomy, wi th fewer complications and the advantage of considerable cost savings.