Percutaneous disc decompression for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Percutaneous disc decompression was used to treat three patients with severe spinal stenosis using Nucleoplasty. Access to the disc was obtained bilaterally using a paramedian approach. Channels were created bilaterally using Coblation and stabilized using coagulation. The patients were reassessed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. MRI was obtained on the first two patients at 6 weeks. All three patients demonstrated significant reduction in pain scores as well as increased functionality for various periods of time. The use of analgesics was also reduced in each of the three patients during the period of diminished pain.