Plasma Disc Decompression

This procedure takes advantage of the intact rim around the edge of the disc, the annulus (the dough for a jelly donut analogy), and focuses on removing some of the nucleus (jelly) to relieve the pressure on the rim. This procedure is useful when that rim bulges out pressing on a nerve root.

(Frankly, though I have heard of and have been trained on this procedure, I have not found it useful.  I have info listed here in case any patients want to access my brief summary here.)

The disc can be decompressed by first introducing a needle into the disc through which the decompression device can be placed.  The needle is placed under the exiting nerve root, done with x-ray guidance in the operating room.

The business end of the tip that does the decompression uses electrical energy to remove nucleus tissue.  This removal is reportedly done with relatively little heating, with the result being that the tissue molecules are vaporized, leaving less pressure within the disc.

After the nucleus material is removed, the theory of this treatment is that the pressure within the disc (causing the rim of the disc to bulge outward) is lessened, causing less bulging of the disc margin.  Ideally then, the pressure on the nerve root can be relieved.

This procedure would be done on an outpatient basis.  Typically, the patients are advised to rest for 2-3 days with limited sitting, bending, lifting, and twisting. There may be some discomfort where the needle was placed for about a week.  Usually, after a few weeks, patients can participate in a physical therapy program.

This procedure is not useful for cases with significant disc degeneration or with spinal fractures.