• J W Simmons, E J Nordby, and A G Hadjipavlou.
• Alamo Bone and Joint Clinic, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
• Eur Spine J. 2001 Jun 1; 10 (3): 192-202.

AbstractThis review presents the history of chemonucleolysis, the techniques, indications, contraindications, and complications. Presenting an historical overview and comparison of success rates with surgical discectomy may provide a fresh understanding of the controversy surrounding chemonucleolysis and establish its efficacy in relation to more invasive treatments. A review of the literature from 1973 through 1998 for chemonucleolysis, open discectomy, and microdiscectomy provided published success rates for these procedures, and a mean rate with standard deviation was determined. In the experience and opinion of the authors, chemonucleolysis remains a viable alternative for patients who have exhausted all conservative means of treatment. Proper patient selection leads to success rates comparable to open discectomy and microdiscectomy.

14 keywords...

hide…