Three-months outcomes of chemonucleolysis with condoliase and analysis regarding injection area

What is it about?

Percutaneous chemonucleolysis with condoliase has been available for painful lumbar disc herniation since 2018 in Japan. This study investigated clinical and radiographic outcomes three months after the administration and analyzed whether the differences of intradiscal injection areas affected the clinical outcomes. We retrospectively investigated 47 consecutive patients (males, 31; median age, 40 years) three months after the administration. Radiographic outcomes were analyzed in 41 patients. The postoperative proportion of VAS scores recovery ≥ 2 points and ≥ 50% for pains in the lower limbs were 80.9% and 66.0%, respectively, revealing satisfactory effectiveness. Preoperative median mid-sagittal disc height significantly reduced from 9.5 to 7.6 mm postoperatively. There were no significant differences in pain relief in the lower limbs by injection areas in the center and the dorsal 1/3rd near the herniation of nucleus pulposus. Chemonucleolysis with condoliase revealed satisfactory short-term outcomes after the administration regardless of intradiscal injection areas.

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Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Why is it important?

For failed treatment with condoliase, the surgical removal of herniation is mostly demanded during three months after administration. The long-term clinical outcomes are certainly important, but the short-term outcomes will be more earnest for the patients with painful lumbar disc herniation.

Perspectives