A non-randomised comparative study of 1000 patients reported ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ MacNab criteria scores (pain relieved by 50% or more and improved motor function) in 84% (419/500) of patients treated by the procedure and 86% (428/500) of patients treated by microdiscectomy at mean 2-year follow-up (significance not stated).
A non-randomised comparative study of 106 patients reported ‘excellent’ MacNab criteria scores (pain relieved by 75% or more and no limitation of motor function) in 48% (29/60) of patients treated by the procedure compared with 48% (22/46) of patients treated by automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy (APLD) (follow-up not stated; difference reported as not significant)
A case series of 518 patients reported an overall success rate (using MacNab criteria; not otherwise described) of 75% (absolute figures and follow-up not stated).
The non-randomised comparative study of 1000 patients reported reoperation for herniation or persistent leg or back pain in 3% (16/500) of patients treated by the procedure and 7% (35/500) of patients treated by microdiscectomy at a mean 2-year follow-up.
A case series of 576 patients reported that 61% of patients were satisfied with the overall outcome of the procedure (absolute figures and follow-up not stated).
The Specialist Advisers listed key efficacy outcomes as recurrence rate, reoperation rate, leg and back pain score, Oswestry Disability Index score and successful decompression.