Long-term Pain Outcomes at 24 Months for Disk Percutaneous Ablation and Extraction

Overview

This study compares the long-term outcomes of disk percutaneous ablation and extraction (DPAE) and Disc-FX nucleoplasty in patients with lumbar discogenic pain. At 24 months, DPAE showed a mean VAS reduction of 5.29 compared to 4.17 for Disc-FX (p < 0.001).

Background

Discogenic pain and contained lumbar disk herniation are significant contributors to chronic low back pain, necessitating effective treatment strategies. Minimally invasive techniques like DPAE and Disc-FX have emerged, yet their long-term efficacy remains under-evaluated. Understanding the comparative effectiveness of these interventions is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• DPAE resulted in a mean VAS reduction of 5.29 compared to 4.17 for Disc-FX (p < 0.001).
• Improvement in ODI was significantly better in the DPAE group.
• Higher rates of marked improvement in PGIC were observed in the DPAE group.
• The composite success rate was 70.0% for DPAE versus 51.1% for Disc-FX (all p < 0.05).
• The reintervention rate was significantly lower in the DPAE group (7.3% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.047).
• No statistically significant difference in complication rates between the two groups.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that DPAE may provide superior long-term pain relief and functional outcomes for patients with lumbar discogenic pain compared to Disc-FX. Clinicians should consider these results when discussing treatment options with patients.

Conclusion

DPAE appears to offer a more effective long-term treatment option for lumbar discogenic pain compared to Disc-FX. Further multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings.

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