Laser disc decompression for lumbar disc herniation

History: The patient was a female, 45 years old, admitted with lumbosacral and right lower extremity postero-lateral pain for 5 years, aggravated with right lower extremity numbness for 1+ months. On admission: claudication, no scoliosis of the spine, slightly restricted lumbar spine movement. Spinal elasticity was slightly poor, spinal palmar pressure pain (+), lumbar 3 and 4 vertebral spine percussion pain (+), and dispersion to the right hip and lower extremity, L3/4 and L4/5 interspinous pressure pain (+), L3/4 and L4/5 right paravertebral pressure pain (+), right L3 transverse process pressure pain (++), right superior gluteal cutaneous nerve at pressure pain (+++), right pear-shaped muscle inferior foramen pressure pain (+++), right hip pressure pain (+), right pressure pain at the posterior aspect of the lower limb (+). Straight leg raise test: right 50 º (+), strengthening (+), left 70 º (-), cross (-), femoral nerve pull test: right (+), left (-), pelvic crush test (-), bilateral “4” test (-), supine jerk sign (+). The skin sensation of the right lateral thigh and right medial and lateral calf was decreased, bilateral knee tendon reflex (++) and Achilles tendon reflex (++), and the right [dorsal extension muscle strength was decreased (grade IV). Double Barr’s sign (-). Lumbar spine CT: L3/4 and L4/5 disc herniation Treatment: preoperative nerve nutrition, dehydration, and microcirculatory improvement medication for 2 days, and refinement of ancillary tests. Minimally invasive surgery: no contraindication to minimally invasive surgery. c-arm guided puncture of L3/4 and L4/5 with a safe triangular approach on the right side reached the interspace smoothly. x-ray orthopantomograph showed the tip of the needle in the middle of the interspace and lateral showed the tip of the needle in the middle and posterior 1/3. 0.5 ml of contrast agent was given to each, showing an intact fibrous ring and replicating the symptoms of the right lower extremity. maximum energy of 568 J for L3/4 and 675 J for L4/5. intraoperatively the patient replicated right lower extremity pain with sequential water droplets, blistering sounds, and burning smell. After decompression was completed intra-discal injection of 40ug/ml O3 5ml each, the needle was withdrawn, anti-inflammatory analgesic solution and 30ug/ml O3 10ml each were given at the external orifice of the intervertebral foramen, then 0.5% lidocaine 10ml and 30ug/ml O310ml were given at the right gluteal epicutaneous nerve, observed for 20 minutes and sent back to the ward. Recovery: bedridden for 24 hours after surgery. The patient reported: the pain disappeared when lying on the bed; 24 hours later, he got out of bed, the limping symptoms disappeared, and the slight pain in the right lateral thigh when walking was not specially treated, the pain symptoms disappeared the next day, and only the slight pain in the skin of the lumbar region was reported. Physical examination: pressure pain in the lumbar hip and leg (-), straight leg raising 80° bilaterally (-), strengthening (-), femoral nerve pull test (-), supine jerk sign (-), numbness of the right lower limb disappeared, right [dorsal extension muscle strength improved compared with the preoperative period, and the difference with the contralateral side was not significant. There was a slight break in the skin of the lumbar region of 1cm*1cm in size, which was accidentally rubbed on the cool mat when turning over due to 24 hours of bed rest, and the lumbar pain originated from the skin break. It can be seen that the efficacy of PLDD for lumbar disc herniation with intact fibrous annulus is definite as long as the indications are correctly selected, the puncture is accurately in place, the energy is appropriately selected, and the treatment measures such as chemical ablation and anti-inflammatory analgesia are combined.