Method of the radio-frequency cold plasma nucleoplasty in treatment of a lumbar discogenic radiculopathy

Abstract

Objective. To study the dynamics of the pain syndrome in the patients, suffering chronic lumbar discogenic radiculopathy, to whom transcutaneous radiofrequency cold plasma nucleoplasty (coblation) was applied. Materials and methods. In the investigation were included 18 patients, ageing 26 - 52 yrs old, median age have constituted (41.0 ± 7.27) yrs, to whom transcutaneous radiofrequency cold plasma nucleoplasty was performed in Clinic «Neuromed» City of Kyiv and Department of Spinal Surgery of the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics. The pain syndrome was estimated in accordance to visual-analogue scale (VAS) in 1 and 6 mo. Results. Complications after the procedure were absent. Before the treatment the pain syndrome in accordance to VAS was estimated in (7.44 ± 0.98) points, immediately after the procedure - in (3.44 ± 0.98) points, in 1 mo after the procedure – in (1.83 ± 0.98) points, in 6 mo – in (1.22 ± 1.52) points. At the same time 16 (33%) patients have informed about complete absence of the pain, in 2 (11%) patients positive dynamics was absent. Conclusion. Transcutaneous radiofrequency cold plasma nucleoplasty constitutes a secure and effective method of treatment of chronic lumbar discogenic radiculopathy.

Keywords

• discogenic pain; lumbar radiculopathy; the cold plasma nucleoplasty; the intradisc coblation.