Decompressing the nucleus of the disc is a proven technique for relieving disc herniations, and for treating the painful symptoms it causes. Similar to letting air out of a bicycle tyre, removing tissue from the center of a disc causes a reduction of pressure within the disc. This in turn leads to a reduction in the pressure that the disc applies to other parts of the body, such as nerve roots or the spinal cord.
Some forms of disc decompression are performed through a minimally invasive catheter or needle. This type of procedure is performed through the skin (‘percutaneously’).
It minimises trauma to the patient and allows for shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than traditional open surgical techniques.
Percutaneous plasma discectomy (also known as percutaneous disc decompression) has been used to treat herniated discs for over 40 years and in over 500,000 patients.
A variety of techniques have been used to decompress discs, including chemical, mechanical, and thermal/ heat (radiofrequency and laser) methods. While the basic mechanism of percutaneous plasma discectomy has been well understood, each of the previous methods has had limitations.