Nucleoplasty as a therapeutic option for lumbar disc degeneration related pain: a retrospective study of 396 cases.

OBJECTIVES To make a retrospective analysis and evaluate a clinical response to the control of disc degeneration related pain of 396 patients submitted to percutaneous lumbar nucleoplasty; and to make a record of visual analogical scale (VAS) up to a three-year follow-up after the surgical procedure. METHODS Analysis of VAS score in 396 patients with lumbar disc degeneration related pain, according to anamnesis, clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), without improvement of previous clinical treatment, submitted to percutaneous nucleoplasty. RESULTS A total of 26% of the patients presented 100% remission of pain or paresthesia, of whom 75% showed at least 50% of pain improvement. The median VAS pain improvement was about 67%. CONCLUSIONS The median VAS improvement in inferior disc levels was higher than four points. The VAS showed improvement of the pain and paresthesia up to a three-year follow up after the surgical procedure.