Two-year clinical outcomes of radiofrequency focal ablation using a navigable plasma disc decompression device in patients with lumbar disc herniation: efficacy and complications

Nack Hwan Kim,1 Youngki Hong,2 Sang-Heon Lee3 1Biomedical Research Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Department of Sports Medicine, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea Purpose: To report on the 2-year clinical outcomes of focal ablation using a navigable plasma disc decompression device in patients with lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP).Patients and methods: This was a prospective, single-cohort study conducted in a clinical center. A total of 170 patients with lumbar HNP were assessed for pain intensity using the visual analog scale (VAS), for disability level using the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODI), for health-related quality of life using the short form-36 version 2 of the bodily pain scale (SF-36 BP), and for the angles of passive straight leg raise (SLR) test. The herniated portions of the target discs were ablated using a navigable catheter under a well-instructed protocol with informed consent. Outcome data were prospectively collected before the procedure: 1 week after the procedure: and then 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. For statistical analysis, repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed.Results: Two years after the procedure, the mean VAS decreased from 7.1±1.7 to 2.1±1.9, the mean ODI decreased from 50.9±17.2 to 20.3% ± 14.6%, and the mean SF-36 BP increased from 38.8±8.4 to 45.8±9.4 (P