The results of the discogenic lumbar radiculopathy treatment using radiofrequency cold plasma nucleoplasty
Background. Lower back pain with irradiation to the lower limbs continues to be a serious medical problem. Recently, minimally invasive percutaneous techniques using an intradisc approach are becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of back pain. Nucleoplasty is a procedure in which radiofrequency bipolar electrode is used for decompression of a disc that gene-rates cold plasma energy in the process of so-called coblation. The main advantages of this intradisc techniques are the absence of gross thermal damage to the treated surface and minimal invasiveness. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pain syndrome treatment by percutaneous radiofrequency cold plasma nucleoplasty (coblation) in patients with chronic lumbar discogenic radiculopathy. Materials and methods. The study included 58 patients aged 29 to 55 (43.0 ± 4.6) years who were treated in 2017-2018 in “Neuromed” clinic in Kyiv and the Department of Spinal Surgery of the State Institution “Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”. Results. Before treatment, the average level of pain by visual analogue scale (VAS) in patients was 7.9 ± 0.8 points, after the procedure, positive dynamics was observed in the range of 3.44 ± 0.98 points. One month after the manipulation, the patients described their feelings as “mild, sometimes - moderate pain” (VAS 1.83 ± 0.98 points). When examined after 6 months, the level of pain in the group was at the level of 1.3 ± 1.5 points. A negative result was observed in 4 patients. Conclusions. Radiofrequency cold plasma nucleoplasty (coblation) can be recommended as an effective method for the treatment of discogenic lumbar radiculopathy.