Percutaneous automated discectomy. A new approach to lumbar surgery.

An automated technique for percutaneous lumbar discectomy applies the principle of suction cutting. The indications are leg pain greater than back pain (sciatica) and failure of all conservative therapy. The typical neurological and roentgenographic abnormalities of a contained herniated lumbar disc are mandatory. The procedure is performed with a Nucleotome (Surgical Dynamics, San Leandro, California) that is a specially designed, 2-mm blunt-tipped suction-cutting device inserted via a posterolateral approach into the affected disc using fluoroscopic control. The results that can be expected with the technique are similar to chymopapain and are in the 70% success range. Automated percutaneous discectomy has a demonstrably low morbidity and can be performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.