It is a method used in the treatment of pain caused by spinal disc herniation. Many interventions can be performed for the treatment of neck, shoulder, arm, back and leg pain in hernias.
How is Nucleoplasty Performed?
Surgical treatment is considered in cases where pain complaints do not regress with conservative treatment. However, the risks in surgical treatment are at a level that cannot be ignored. Hernia pain is relieved as an alternative to surgery, with a minimally invasive procedure that removes the nucleus pulposus tissue in a controlled manner using radiofrequency energy. is created. This heat created is an energy that decomposes many element molecules and molecular bonds in the disc content in the region.
The gases formed as a result of the decomposition evaporate away from the disc contents through the introducer needle. The pressure reduction caused by the evaporation of the disc contents causes the protruding portion of the disc to be drawn into the disc. With this method, approximately 1 cc of disc content is evacuated.
The procedure is performed sterile and aseptically in the operating room under continuous imaging with a C-arm fluoroscopy. The application takes approximately 60 minutes.
Who Should Have Nucleoplasty?
- Disc hernia and leg pain measured by MRI in cases where the spinal canal occupies less than 33% of its sagittal diameter In the presence of
- In patients whose disc herniation pain does not respond to conservative treatment for more than 6 weeks,
- Nucleoplasty is performed in the presence of a positive discogram revealing axial and/or leg pain.
What Should Be Done Before Nucleoplasty?
The patient's current flu, sinusitis or similar infection or cause Undetected high fever should be excluded.
Blood thinners and drugs containing gingko biloba should be discontinued 10 days in advance.
Anti-coagulant drugs used should be discontinued at least 1 week before the intervention.
From the intervention Stop consuming any solid-liquid food, water, tea, etc., until 5 hours before
Patients must be accompanied by a companion.
What Should Be Considered After Nucleoplasty?
For how many days the patient should rest, walking should not be less than 10-20 minutes at a time.
You should not drive for at least 48 hours.
Heavy lifting should not be done for the first 2 weeks.
Following and bending of the lower back should be avoided, and massage should not be performed for 12 weeks following the intervention.
2-3 days after nucleoplasty. Gentle flexion and extension exercises from week 3-5. Physiotherapy should be started from the first week.
Who Should Not Have Nucleoplasty?
- Patients with more than 50% narrowing of the disc space,
- Spinal Nucleoplasty is not performed in disc hernias occupying more than 33% sagittal canal diameter,
- In the presence of spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal fracture or tumor,
- In case of coagulopathy, nucleoplasty is not performed.
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