Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression : A Practical Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Contributors
1 Introduction: Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression 1
2 Principles of Lasers 19
3 Anatomy and Pathophysiology of Intervertebral Discs 29
4 Familial Incidence of Disc Herniation. Epidemiologic and Genetic Evidence: A
Hypothesis Suggesting That Laminectomy and Discectomy Are Counterproductive 59
5 Patient Selection 65
6 The Neurologic Examination 71
7 The Role of Radiology in Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression 89
8 Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbothoracic Spine Under Compression 125
9 Initial Consultation and First Interview 131
10 The Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression Procedure 137
11 Complications of Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression and Their Treatments
163
12 Postprocedure Physical Therapy 173
13 Complicated Disc Herniations Responding to Percutaneous Laser Disc
Decompression 183
14 Unexpected Results in Patients Treated with Percutaneous Laser Disc
Decompression 191
15 Endoscopic Laser Foraminoplasty: A Treatment Concept and Two-Year Outcome
Analysis 197
16 Role of Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression in the Treatment of Discogenic
Back Pain 211
17 Clinical Experience in 2088 Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression Procedures
217
18 Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression: A 10-Year Follow-Up of Clinical Data
223
Index 229