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Treatment of contained lumbar disc herniations using radiofrequency assisted micro-tubular decompression and nucleotomy: four year prospective study results.

International journal of spine surgery · 2014 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 3051

In 47 patients with 4-year follow-up data, mean VAS back pain improved from 8.6 pre-treatment to 2.3 at 4 years and mean VAS leg pain improved from 7.8 to 2.3. At 4 years, 83% reported being satisfied/very satisfied with quality of life (SF-12); recurrence oc…

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of spine surgery · 2014
Study typecohort
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with radiculopathy caused by contained disc herniations are less likely to have good outcomes following discectomy surgery than patients with disc herniations that are not contained. The author presents his 4-year results from a prospective trial regarding the efficacy and safety of a tubular transforaminal radiofrequency-assisted manual decompression and annulus modulation of contained disc herniations in 58 patients. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to a contained disc herniation were enrolled in a prospective clinical study. Visual analog scores (VAS) for back pain and leg pain, quality of life assessment, Macnab criteria, and SF-12 were collected from patients before treatment, at 2-years and 4-years post-treatment. RESULTS: At 4 years, results were obtained from 47 (81%) of patients. Compared to mean pre- treatment assessments, mean 4-year VAS for back pain improved from 8.6 to 2.3 points, and mean VAS for leg pain improved from 7.8 to 2.3. Eighty-three percent of respondents reported that they were "satisfied" or "very satisifed" with their quality of life at 4-years as per SF-12. At 4 years, recurrence was noted in 3 (6.4%) of respondents and no complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The 2-year and 4-year study results are nearly identical, suggesting durable benefit out to 4 years. These results also suggest that in carefully selected patients with sustained contained disc herniations who have failed conservative treatments, manual decompression combined with radiofrequency-assisted decompression and annulus modulation are very likely to have good outcomes 4 years post-treatment.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecohort
Effect directionbenefit
PopulationPatients with lumbar radiculopathy due to a contained lumbar disc herniation
Sample size58
Exposurefollow-up at 2 years and 4 years post-treatment
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 47 patients with 4-year follow-up data, mean VAS back pain improved from 8.6 pre-treatment to 2.3 at 4 years and mean VAS leg pain improved from 7.8 to 2.3. At 4 years, 83% reported being satisfied/very satisfied with quality of life (SF-12); recurrence occurred in 3/47 (6.4%) and no complications were reported.

Outcomes measured

  • VAS back pain
  • VAS leg pain
  • Quality of life (SF-12)
  • Macnab criteria
  • Recurrence
  • Complications

Limitations

  • Prospective trial described but randomization/control group not mentioned in abstract
  • Loss to follow-up at 4 years (47/58 with results)
  • Single-author study (as described in abstract)
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "radiofrequency-assisted medical procedure",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "follow-up at 2 years and 4 years post-treatment"
  },
  "population": "Patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to a contained lumbar disc herniation",
  "sample_size": 58,
  "outcomes": [
    "VAS back pain",
    "VAS leg pain",
    "Quality of life (SF-12)",
    "Macnab criteria",
    "Recurrence",
    "Complications"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 47 patients with 4-year follow-up data, mean VAS back pain improved from 8.6 pre-treatment to 2.3 at 4 years and mean VAS leg pain improved from 7.8 to 2.3. At 4 years, 83% reported being satisfied/very satisfied with quality of life (SF-12); recurrence occurred in 3/47 (6.4%) and no complications were reported.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Prospective trial described but randomization/control group not mentioned in abstract",
    "Loss to follow-up at 4 years (47/58 with results)",
    "Single-author study (as described in abstract)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "contained lumbar disc herniation",
    "lumbar radiculopathy",
    "radiofrequency-assisted decompression",
    "micro-tubular decompression",
    "nucleotomy",
    "transforaminal",
    "VAS",
    "SF-12",
    "Macnab criteria",
    "4-year follow-up"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.14444/1024
PubMed: 25694932

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