Pain physician
-
Review Meta Analysis
Nucleoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure for disc decompression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published clinical studies.
Nucleoplasty, based on Coblation® technology, is a minimally invasive procedure used to decompress herniated discs. Reviews to date--exclusively systematic reviews--recommend nucleoplasty for treating chronic back pain, although with the restriction of limited to fair evidence. We therefore aimed to summarize and interpret our calculated results, where possible comprehensively and quantitatively, using statistical methods in the context of a meta-analysis supplementing a systematic review. In the process, the central question was to statistically determine whether, and to what extent, nucleoplasty can positively affect pain relief and functional mobility as well as lower the complication rate. ⋯ Nucleoplasty reduces pain in the long term and improves patients' functional mobility. It is an effective, low-complication, minimally invasive procedure used to treat disc herniations.