Percutaneous microdecompressive endoscopic cervical discectomy with laser thermodiskoplasty.

OBJECTIVE To study the surgical outcome of outpatient percutaneous microdecompressive endoscopic cervical discectomy with lower energy laser for shrinkage of disc material (thermodiskoplasty). METHOD Since 1994, 200 patients with herniated cervical discs have presented at the authors' clinic, with unilateral radicular pain. The diagnosis was 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 persistent neck and upper extremity pain associated with paresthesias. There were no significant postoperative complications. Average time before returning to work was 10 days. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous microdecompressive endoscopic cervical discectomy with laser thermodiskoplasty has proven to be a safe and efficacious minimally invasive procedure.