Spine Research

Morphometrical and Clinical Analysis of Cervical Nucleoplasty Cases Using Coblation Technique

Background: Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure for managing chronic discogenic cervical pain. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of nucleoplasty treatment on chronic cervical discogenic pain, intervertebral disc volumetry so as to examine the success of the surgery.

Methods: Records of patients who underwent nucleoplasty from two different university hospitals in Turkey were assessed. Records between 2005 and 2014 years of thirty-six cases, who had no recovery from medical and physical treatment and treated with nucleoplasty at single or double levels investigated retrospectively. All assessments included visual analog scale (VAS) evaluation before the surgery and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after the surgery. Intervertebral disc volumes between 4th and 5th cervical vertebrates and also between 5th and 6th were measured on axial magnetic resonance images slices using a stereological method, before and after the treatment.

Results: VAS results displayed pain improvement at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after the surgery when compared with that of before the surgery (ps<0.05). After the nucleoplasty treatment, the mean intervertebral disc volumes between 4th and 5th, and also between 5th and 6th cervical vertebrates revealed significant decrease when compared with that of preoperative assesment (ps<0.05). The present study does not compare the results of different techniques used in the disc protrusion management.

Conclusions: Good classified patients may have good prognosis with nucleoplasty. The method is minimally invasive, provides a safer surgical experience and has protective effects on intervertebral disc biomechanics.

Author(s):

Hamit Selim Karabekir,Elmas Atar, Ahmet Yildizhan, Ayse Canan Yazici,Nilufer Demirci Yonguc,and Nuket Gocmen Mas5

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