Indication option of percutaneous cervical nucleoplasty

Objective To explore the best indication of nucleoplasty in treating cervical disc herniation. Methods A total of 127 symptomatic patients (81males and 46 females, mean age 49 years) were treated with nucleoplasty by one surgeon. An average percentage of symptom relief (VAS score) and subjective satisfaction rate were used to evaluate results at follow-up. Results Patients were followed up for average 18 months(range 4~31 months)postoperatively. The excellent rate of subjective satisfaction was 74% in the patients with axial pain and/or radicular pain, The excellent rate of subjective satisfaction was 76% in the patients with small and lateral disc herniation on MRI. Conclusion The results showed that the nucleoplasty should be performed only for the patients with cervical disc herniation characteristically by: ① Ssevere axial pain and reflecting radicular pain; ② Small and lateral disc herniation on MRI; ③ Supplementary therapy perioperatively in patients treated with cervical open surgery.