Although Laser Disc Surgery (also known as PLDD – Percutaneoud Laser Disc Decompression) is a minimally invasive treatment and generally a very safe procedure, it is not exempt from complications that, although, for the general term, are usually of a mild character, in some cases they can become more serious or complicated.
The objective of PLDD is to reduce the volume of the nucleus pulposus without affecting the fibrous ring or adjacent tissues. The heat generated by the laser has a high penetration power and thus it is vital for the surgeon to position the laser properly to reduce the probability of damage.
Among the most frequent complications are discitis, which is an inflammatory process that affects the intervertebral disc and the surface of the vertebral bodies.
Laser disc surgery is performed with a needle under XRAY guidance. The risk of something going wrong is very rare.
It is suggested that the use of antibiotics could reduce the risk of infection of septic discitis, although its use is questioned. At the Harley Street Hospital, we always use antibiotics during the procedure.
There are reports about the possibility of bleeding, along with the development of bruises, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, paraspinal muscle spasms, sacroiliac inflammation, new-onset root deficit, nerve root and sigmoid artery damage.
In the cervical and thoracic regions it should be taken into account that due to the anatomical location, with many vital structures, the intervention could carry a risk of emergence of retropharyngeal abscess, or pneumothorax, among other complications.
The heat of the laser generally renders areas sterile and infection is very rare but a reaction with local inflammation is more common.
To avoid unwanted complications or adverse effects, emphasis is placed on that the procedure by means of PLDD must be performed by expert surgeons, with experience and trained in this procedure, being essential to monitor the patient and be alert to any complaint or pain during the intervention, making the necessary adjustments of power, frequency of pulses and intervals when applying the laser when it occurs an episode of pain or “burning” by the patient.
At The Harley Street Hospital, we have experts who have considerable experience in using laser for spinal surgery.